Tazeen Akhtar

Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan , a country where Corona is said to be on rise in its second wave , and a country where the government is cursing opposition for not observing SoPs and spreading virus through their rallies , Speaker of National Assembly of that country was inviting people as chief guest in an event at the National Assembly, National Assembly that was closed first on 4 Nov 2020 until 9 Nov after more than 30 cases were found there and the National Assembly that again has been closed from 4 Dec 2020 to 12 Dec 2020.The event was on just one day earlier than the second closure of the Assembly. The Senate has also been closed for the same time period. Both are in the same building of Parliament House.

Invitation

“Speaker National Assembly Of Islamic Republic of Pakistan “HON’BLE ASAD QAISER” Request the pleasure of your presence at The Parliament House from 1000 hrs to 1300 hrs on the International Day of Person with disabilities.

Tomorrow, December 03, 2020

Time: 10:00 am – 01:00 pm

Venue: Parliament House, Islamabad”

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It was an event with disable persons in which Ms Zala Qaiser, the daughter of Speaker was also a main speaker.

Speaker himself tested positive two months ago and recovered after few weeks.

It was mainly an NGOs event that is called Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP). STEP acted the same way as is its name – step by inviting a large number of people and journalists to a place that has already been declared Corona Central and has already been and is about to be closed again only after few hours.

Question is why a private NGO is so important for the Speaker of National Assembly that he not only consents to be the host of the event but also allows the Parliament of Pakistan for that org?

The list of speakers and participants is here;

The names of Atif Sheikh ,Abia Akram directors of NGO, Munaza Hassan MNA, Shireen Mazari Federal Minister can be read in this invitation card.It proves that neither the speaker nor the minister of this government and other representatives are serious about corona. Moreover they are supporting private NGOs using our national places that clearly depicts conflict of interests.

Country Representative UNFPA, Lina Mousa is also among the guests. She can better illustrate why she could not object on the event at a Covid struck place? She is also supposed to explain , her head office has allowed her to take part in such events in the wake of corona?

It is enough to understand the double standards of the government of Pakistan and international ORGs.