Political temperatures are expected to rise as the opposition starts nationwide protests and rallies later this week in a bid to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government. This also comes just as the number or coronavirus cases are surging and a second wave of infections is expected to hit us.
The opposition’s alliance PDM will hold its first sit-in in Gujranwala on October 16 while the PPP will hold a rally on October 18 in Karachi marked to observe the Karsaz carnage. The only concern remains that large public gatherings are still banned and should be shunned completely due to the global pandemic.
The number of cases are on the rise and the positivity rate has increased to two percent which is considered high to contain the pandemic. The government has already started imposing micro smart lockdown in many areas of Karachi, Islamabad and even in Azad Kashmir. Punjab – the largest province and where the opposition will kick off its protests – in gradually heading towards a second wave.
The Pakistan Medical Association has warned about a foreseeable second spike on coronavirus. This could start from educational institutes which reopened last month but the implementation of safety precautions remains non-existent. Winter has arrived and any carelessness on part of the public can trigger the much-dreaded second wave.
Political events and large public gatherings are likely to cause the spread of the virus and once again place the shambolic health system under pressure. These events can act as a super-spreader and infects many others. US President Trump also contracted the virus when he attended a political event followed by a fundraiser without any precautions.
Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s advice that the opposition should delay their protests till next year should be considered. Political parties should show responsibility and not place the lives and health of their own activists at risk. The opposition must be roaring to go after the government but it should realise that that pandemic is not over and the agitation and protest movement is ill-timed.
Political activities have come to a standstill around the world as elections have been annulled or delayed. The opposition should take this into consideration that its protests are leading to an even greater health crisis in the country which can affect us all.
