COVID-19 and politicking
 

[B]COVID-19 and politicking[/B]

As the emergence of COVID-19 has affected everything around us including behaviour, public dealing, economy, culture, etc. Similarly, it has provided a new shape to the politicking. For instance, in Pakistan, ongoing feud between the central government and the provincial governments in general but Sindh province in particular has provided opportunity to the rival parties to enhance their political gains and paint the efforts of other side as flawed strategy for tackling the deadly coronavirus. Politicians have indeed found opportunity to increase their political capital during this trying time. In US, once coronavirus is contained and the presidential election kicks-off, Covid-19 will take the centre stage in the presidential debates. This issue will be in the spotlight than many other issues such as tackling Iran, Afghan negotiations, killing of general Sulemani, etc. There is nothing wrong in claiming credit for the positive initiatives. However, it is certainly worrisome when the local politicians hold photo-ops while distributing one detergent soap, sanitiser, or a ration beg, etc. It adds to the injuries of the poor but the men integrity whose souls are badly torn, their hearts are injured, reputation is shattered when their photographs are doing rounds on social media. Such worst practice must be the Machiavellian meanness, but not sympathy or support to the downtrodden segments of society. Such actors need soul searching now more than ever !

COVID-19: a divine curse?
 

Some segments of divine religions have found convenient means to escape the realities such as COVID-19 by dubbing it as the divine curse on humanity. It is such a segment that disregards the precautionary measures resultantly it wreaked havoc and the coronavirus cases multiplied within no time. In addition, many religio-political leaders whose videos were doing rounds were provoking their followers under solemn pledge that they would not allow the mosques to be deserted and will offer prayers. They also rubbished the practice as conspiracy. These both segments need a serious soul-searching. Firstly, if it is not a divine curse. It is a nature occurrence that science has described as transmitted from animals to humans and it is minute creature called ‘virus’ that is highly contagious if precautions are not taken, it will take a heavy toll on human beings. Moreover, if it was curse, then certainly it would have infected/damaged only the cursed persons. Nevertheless, this virus does not discriminate between cursed or pious, Muslim or a non-Muslim, male or female, etc. Secondly, it is not a conspiracy against Muslims at all as it has affected non-Muslims and Muslims on equal footing. Corona-virus has no eyes, no religion, no emotions, and thus it does not discriminate. May sanity prevails and we pay more attention towards attaining modern scientific knowledge. Otherwise, we are to parish and will be attributing it to the conspiracies and divine punishments for our satisfaction.