Shehbaz Sharif and pandemic

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif returned to Pakistan last month after a four-month stay in London stating he would help the country during the coronavirus pandemic. Ever since then, the PML-N leader has been pushed into oblivion as the health emergency has gained more precedence.

The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t stopped the PML-N from trading barbs with the ruling PTI. The recent sugar and wheat crisis report gave the party an opportunity to lash out at the prime minister and his associates with corruption accusations. Shehbaz Sharif has been communicating with party leaders through video-conferencing as the health crisis worsen. He had agreed to send his suggestions against the pandemic but it is evident that the party has been politicking over the issue.

It did not take much longer before Shehbaz was once again on NAB’s radar. He faced a plethora of corruption cases, references and enquiries before he went to London accompanying his brother. The accountability bureau summoned him but he has twice refused to appear citing coronavirus as an excuse. He explained that he was a 69-years-old cancer survivor and was vulnerable to the virus. NAB rejected the excuse and assured that social distancing would be practiced that the PML-N leaders would be questioned from safe distanced. He has now summoned again to appear on May 4.

Shehbaz Sharif has insisted on calling a joint session of parliament to discuss the response to the pandemic. Other parties have been hesitant and holding a session of parliament online is a rather improbable and arduous task that may even require amendments to the constitution. The question remains that if Shehbaz is reluctant to visit NAB offices then how will he attend parliament. He has received criticism for merely using the virus as an excuse to escape accountability.

In order to gain political relevance, the party turned the guns towards the prime minister stating that he has failed in handling the crisis and that the nation cannot run on telethons. He decried the lack of comprehensive policy on healthcare, economic and administrative issues. The federal government has been criticised for its inability to take decisions and Shehbaz offered support to serve the people.

With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the party has not been unable to gain relevance and its suggestions to build a strategy were not entertained. As Shehbaz himself said, the nation will see who uses the pandemic to further his political agency and who fulfilled their duty to the nation.