Parliament opens debate on pandemic.

ISLAMABAD -- The special session of National Assembly summoned to debate the coronavirus [COVID-19] crisis on Monday saw political tension between the government and opposition on how the pandemic has been dealt with in different parts of the country.

Though members from government and opposition expressed willingness to jointly win the war against coronavirus, they did not refrain from targeting each other in their speeches.

Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, kept instructing the members to wear masks and keep social distance with each other to save themselves. Meanwhile, the house echoed with slogans during the speeches of members from both sides.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi, opening the debate, said that coronavirus would be defeated with mutual efforts of all the provinces. 'We have to play the Pakistan card to defeat this war, as provinces need to avoid prejudice in this crisis situation,' he said and feared that the peak of the virus had yet to come in Pakistan.

He said that the country's COVID-19 testing capacity stands at 20,000, and is increasing with the passage of time. Supporting the policy of relaxing lockdown, he said that they had to take care of poor people of society. 'The idea of relaxing lockdown went in favour of large number of people living below the poverty line,' he argued.

'In case the loss of lives in Smart Lockdown increases, then they have the option to review the decision,' he remarked. About 18th amendment, he said that PPP in Sindh was responsible for the health sector, going on to criticise the lockdown policy of Sindh.

He further said that the impression that Sindh has been abused or neglected is completely wrong; the relief program has been started in all the provinces according to their share.

He claimed that the Sindh government was given the highest number of protective clothes in proportion to its medical staff. He said there was need to stand united to fight the pandemic. He said that Rs75 billion has been allocated for the unemployed, while relief has been given to all the provinces in electricity bills.

Qureshi also deplored the fact that Modi's RSS government in India is holding Muslims responsible for the spread of coronavirus and Pakistan condemns the Hindutva mindset.

PML-N's parliamentary leader Khawaja Muhammad Asif criticised the government for alleged political victimisation during the COVID-19 crisis. Opposition leaders were arrested during the outbreak and no leaders were...