ISLAMABAD: National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) Chief Asad Umar has blamed the country’s political leadership for the worsening COVID-19 situation in the country, saying that the worst COVID SOPs violation was committed by politicians.
“Two weeks back, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was threatening to hold PM Imran and ministers accountable if COVID-19 spreads further in Karachi and now PDM announces holding a public meeting this month in Karachi,” the minister said in a Tweet.
Two weeks back bilawal zardari was threatening to hold PM and ministers accountable if covid spreads further in karachi and now PDM announces holding a jalsa this month in karachi!! Sadly the worst violations of covid sop’s in the last one year have come from politicians.
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) August 12, 2021
Expressing his annoyance over the decision, the federal minister said, “Sadly the worst violations of COVID-19 SOPs in the last one year have come from politicians.”
PDM president and chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) Maulana Fazlur Rehman, had announced to stage a public meeting in Karachi on August 29.
In another tweet today (Thursday), the minister said he had recommended that AJK elections get postponed for a couple of months and a special vaccination campaign run before the elections. However, Asad Umar said, his proposal was ignored.
“Since the elections, the positivity rate of coronavirus in AJK is running between 25% and 30%. Elections have acted as a super spreader event,” the minister added.
Had recommended that AJK elections get postponed for a couple of months and a special vaccination campaign run before the elections. It was not agreed. Since the elections the positivity of AJK is running between 25 and 30%. Elections have acted as a super spreader event.
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) August 12, 2021
Earlier in the day, Pakistan reported more than a hundred deaths from the coronavirus, the highest in nearly three months as the situation worsens amid the fourth wave.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan reported 4,934 cases and 102 deaths in the previous 24-hour period. The national tally of coronavirus cases has reached 1,085,294 while the death toll stands at 24,187.
The country last reported more than 100 deaths on May 20 this year. The positivity ratio was recorded at 8.30%. There were 59,397 tests conducted in the previous day leading to new cases. The number of active cases in the country has also increased to 85,633 amid the deteriorating situation.
