Sindh minister blames coronavirus spread in Matiari on governor.

HYDERABAD -- Sindh Revenue and Relief Minister Makhdoom Mahboobuz Zaman has said he believes that the Sindh governor [Imran Ismail] is responsible for the spike in coronavirus cases in Matiari.

Chairing a meeting of district administration officials through video link in Matiari on Friday, he said he had already apprehended that the governor's April 22 visit to Matiari would lead to spread of the virus and his fear came true. He pointed out that 24 such cases had been reported in Matiari district since April 22.

'I hold Sindh governor responsible for this [increase in the cases],' said the minister.

When the list of those people who had come across the governor was prepared and provided to the district administration, the process was given a political colour, he noted, and said the people whose names were mentioned in the list were to be quarantined for having met the governor and possibly contracted the contagion.

Mr Zaman said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had restrained all party members from doing politics on the present [Covid-19] situation. He said that now, in consultation with the party leadership, efforts would be made to see that such a situation did not arise.

When he was informed during the meeting that some doctors had received threatening messages, the minister directed the Matiari SSP to investigate the matter because doctors were the front line of defence in the ongoing fight against the contagion and ensuring protection to them was the administration's prime responsibility.

The minister said that cases had not shown a declining trend so far, therefore, all precautions needed to be adopted as best as possible by everyone.

The SSP was also asked to control crime and take action against those involved in robberies, motorcycle snatching and other crimes.

SSP Asif Bughio told...