Dr Zafar Mirza who represented Pakistan at the SAARC video-conference on COVID-19 on Sunday is being probed for his involvement in the smuggling 20 million face masks out of Pakistan as per reports.
Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza took part in the SAARC conference on coronavirus instead of Pakistan PM Imran Khan. As the SAARC leaders got together to discuss ways to combat the deadly virus, the Pakistani leader raked up the Kashmir issue and politicised global pandemic. Even as India offered technology help, fund and rapid response teams to SAARC countries, Pakistan chose the platform to play petty politics.
“We hope that during this COVID-19 our member countries will provide access to all the regions. In this regard, it is a matter of concern that COVID-19 has reported from Jammu and Kashmir. In the view of emergency its imperative that all lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir must be lifted immediately, opening up communication and movement,” Zafar Mirza had remarked. It is important to note here that the security situation in Kashmir has not hampered administration efforts to ensure that the pandemic is contained.
Ironically, it is now reported that Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a probe against Dr Zafar Mirza for his involvement in the smuggling of 20 million face masks to the foreign countries.
According to the complaint, the Special Assistant to PM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza is accused of colluding with the deputy director of DRAP Ghazanfar Ali to smuggle 20 million face masks to other countries. The accusations against Imran Khan’s aide Mirza comes at a time when the world is facing a global epidemic of COVID-19 and there is a huge shortage of masks, sanitizers across the globe.
Young Pharmacists’ Association’s General Secretary Dr Furqan Ibrahim submitted an application to the Prime Minister’s complaint cell. Following the complaint, FIA’s Additional Director General has directed to submit the report within 15 days.
“20 million face masks were smuggled out of Pakistan by the aide of Mr Ghazanfar Ali Khan S/O Mr Maqbool Khan Deputy Director DRAP and Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to Prime Minister,” read the complaint submitted by Pakistan Young Pharmacists Association.
