New Delhi: Pakistan’s well known fashion designer Maria Butt — known more popularly by her label ‘Maria B’ — has drawn flak for defending her husband who allowed their cook to return to his village after he tested positive for coronavirus.
Her husband was arrested Tuesday by the police for asking the cook to return to his village without alerting the authorities or taking him to a hospital for treatment. In a viral video, Maria is heard saying, “This is an appeal to Prime Minister Imran Khan. Last night my house was raided by police men as if I was the biggest drug mafia don in Lahore, with guns. They took away my husband and they told him that there’s an FIR registered against him and arrested him without a lawyer. They didn’t even wait for the lawyer to come, at 12:30am in the night.”
Pakistani designer’s home raided by #Punjab #Police in #Lahore. Says her husband was taken away and family was treated like criminals. Her husband had tested positive for #covid19
We’re heading towards dangerous times, mostly due to lack of understanding and SOPs pic.twitter.com/P9ILaOcWDi
— Ovais Jafar (@ovaisjafar) March 24, 2020
“We are the ones who are suffering, we’re the ones whose tests are coming out positive anytime now — my entire family. And we are the one who are the culprits?” Maria goes on to say.
She’s now being called out on Twitter for failing to see where she and her husband stumbled — by forcing their cook to break quarantine.
I love how Maria B thinks that she can turn on the camera & tell the PM during a pandemic to care about her reckless husband who sends Covid-19 positive patients on bus rides.
Elite Class Previlage in Pakistan knows no bounds. Some minister will get him released.
— Asfandyar Bhittani (@BhittaniKhannnn) March 24, 2020
If the Maria B story is true, then all it proves is that the rich in Pakistan feel no responsibility for individuals, society or country. Only themselves.
— Shay ? (@shayandahalf) March 24, 2020
This family is unwilling to self quarantine, not giving up elite parties, their cook was positive, instead of informing authorities they sent him to village IN A BUS. Still they are not culprit but authorities are…
She is Maria B ! @DCLahore
pic.twitter.com/U7gyEJujFs— Katherine (@Jinnah_Club) March 24, 2020
Pakistan ranks 66th in World Happiness Index
According to the UN’s World Happiness Index 2020, Pakistan ranks the 66th happiest country in the world, leaving India far behind on 144th position. A total of 156 countries were surveyed.
Out of all its cities, Karachi is the happiest within the country, says the report.
“For the report, researchers asked people to evaluate their own levels of happiness, and took into account measures such as GDP, social support, personal freedom and levels of corruption to give their own nation a happiness score,” says a report in the News International.
One of the researchers said in a statement, “The happiest countries are those ‘where people feel a sense of belonging’, where they trust and enjoy each other and their shared institutions. There is also more resilience, because shared trust reduces the burden of hardships, and thereby lessens the inequality of well-being.”
Also read:Happiness is serious business. Just look at the World Happiness Report
Exiled activist accuses Pak govt of spreading coronavirus for aid
Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, an exiled activist and former chairperson of the United Kashmir People’ National Party, made a statement last week alleging the Pakistani government was deliberately moving its coronavirus positive patients to PoK.
“Pakistan must stop deliberately spreading coronavirus in PoK to get international aid. The Pakistani establishment is deliberately spreading the coronavirus to get international aid and is also trying to use the territory of Kashmir to house their sick, which is a diabolical move,” he said.
According to another activist from the same organisation, Pakistan transported 27 coronavirus suspected patients to PoK Monday, and 13 of them were positive cases.
“Coronavirus patients in Pakistan should be treated there only. There is available infrastructure in Pakistan. We have informed the international community, including the WHO and the UN that PoK is a disputed area and Pakistan has no right to shift coronavirus patients in this region,” said Nasir Aziz Khan, the second activist.
Sindh CM gets anonymous donation to fight coronavirus
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah of the Pakistan Peoples Party received a cheque for Rs 1 million from an anonymous donor to help fight the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in the Pakistan province.
The cheque came with a letter that reads, “Dear CM, I am a retired person of 88 years. In response to your appeal, I submit herewith a cheque of a humble amount in face of unheard and dreadful epidemic [sic].”
Shah shared a picture of the cheque and the letter on Twitter and the post instantly went viral.
Today I received this anonymous donation made to “Sindh Coronavirus Emergency Fund”, along with a letter from the donor. Such acts of kindness strengthen our resolve to continue fighting this challenge, & reassure us that humanity stands tall during such extraordinary times! pic.twitter.com/DmvNwzlTHE
— Murad Ali Shah (@MuradAliShahPPP) March 23, 2020
Shah had announced he would be starting an Emergency Coronavirus Fund on 17 March. Pakistan has reported 1,000 positive cases and seven deaths so far.
Also read: Despite highest COVID-19 cases in subcontinent, Pakistan yet to contribute to SAARC Fund