PM hints at gradual 'lifting' of lockdown from May 9

The federal cabinet on Tuesday decided to ease the lockdown imposed since the outbreak of the coronavirus outbreak, 24NewsHD reported while quoting sources.

Prime Minister Imran Khan hinted at the gradual lifting of the lockdown from May 9 but also stressed that strict enforcement of guidelines in everyday life would also be very important.

According to the sources, the meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, unanimously agreed that the lockdown should be relaxed in phases, but the final decision would be taken by the National Coordination Committee.

Meanwhile, the sources also revealed that the government bowed before the country’s biggest financial scandal as the federal cabinet approved the decision to delay the formation of an inquiry commission by two months amid all the tall claims and regular media statements.

The federal cabinet also opted to reverse the decision of making the report on the massive scandal involving Rs5,000 billion public.

Meanwhile, it was agreed that matter of making the report public would be considered again after two months.

The sources say the government took the decision because of the resistance shown by the Power Division and cabinet members.

Meanwhile, the ongoing talks with the IPPs (independent power plants) owners and the resentment shown by a friendly country (China) were used an excuse for the move.

Earlier, the federal cabinet on April 21 had approved the decision to form the inquiry commission and make report public. And since then it has been described by the government members and spokespersons as a great example of transparency and accountability introduced by Imran.

Just like week, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid had claimed that t Imran deserved credit for making public the inquiries into the sugar and flour scams as well as the IPPs which was the biggest mafia in the country.

Rashid had maintained that Imran would contest the next elections on the basis of the inquiries into the IPPs, sugar and flour scandals.

On the other hand, the meeting also decided that the Qadianis won’t be included in the proposed National Commission for Minorities after people from different walks of life expressed serious reservations over the issue.

The sources say the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony briefed the cabinet meeting on the issue.

Earlier, the ministry had sent a summary to the federal government, advising against the inclusion of Qadianis in the proposed commission.

The critics were of the view that move would grant them rights on par with other minorities.

There have been reports that the majority of the planned body would be Qadianis, which attracted great resentment from the people, especially religious leaders.