The world is facing unprecedented humanitarian crisis of such magnitude that we in our lives have never experienced before. The outbreak of COVID 19 has shaken the whole world where every day is gloomy, each second is distressing and every news is terrifying. Till to date far across the world more than 9.94 M positive cases and 597 K deaths have been reported which are increasing by every passing moment. In Pakistan up to now more than 202,955 positive and 4,118 deaths are reported. This deadly virus has broken our social fabric and has pushed us into panic and isolation. To combat this Pandemic, national and international leadership needed to join hands to utilize all the available tools and resources. Soon after its outbreak, many claims, speculations, conspiracy theories and misinformation about the COVID19 have found their way into the International print and electronic media, blurring the distinction between real and fake-news mainly about its origin and Patient Zero. Many claim it is a man-made bio-warfare or an act of bioterrorism and others say that it is a naturally grown virus but the common man is still confused and horrified.
In a surprising move, during the lockdown due to Coronavirus outbreak in the country, on May 2, 2020, a book titled “Coronavirus- Threat To National Security; Biowarfare or Real Virus” written by Former Interior Minister, Senator A. Rehman Malik has been launched by former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. Due to the situation caused by the Coronavirus when social distancing and isolation are being observed to control this deadly pandemic, the book was launched in a simple but highly impressive ceremony through video link. The ceremony was attended by renowned journalists. “Coronavirus- Threat to National Security, Bio-Warfare or real Virus” stresses that it is the need of the hour to address people’s apprehensions whether the COVID-19 is a naturally grown virus or is man-made to be used as bioweapon to further devastate, a terrorism, war and poverty struck world.
The author Senator A. Rehman Malik emphasized that to address this issue once and forever, a high powered United Nations Commission on COVID 19 is required to investigate in depth, therefore, on Match 21st, 2020, in a letter to Secretary General United Nations Mr. António Guterres, he pleaded to order the constitution of a high-powered UN Commission on COVID-19 under UN Convention on Biological Weapons, 1975 to investigate whether COVID-19 is man-made or a naturally-grown virus. In his letter which is part of his book, he explains that in the face of the unrest precipitated by the outbreak of COVID-19, and to pre-empt the growing perception linking the COVID-19 spread to communities that is rapidly increasing polarization through violent responses; world order needs to be preserved in the interest of international community. The book reads “With the Virologists and Biologist, across board, being unsuccessful in accurately identifying source, location, genesis, and variable results among affected states, the plausibility of some sort of Bio-Warfare within the Fifth Dimension Warfare is gaining root. This trajectory, unfortunately, has the potential to cause further panic and blame games.”
Not only this, but for the proposed UN commission on Covid-19, the author has also suggested seven ToRs to the UN Secretary General that include accurate identification of the geo-location of the Covid-19’s origin, identification of areas with zero patient, discovery as to why the behaviour, intensity and fertility rate of Covid-19 varies from country to country, investigation whether Covid-19 is a man-made or naturally-grown virus and examination of the allegations of transportation of the virus from one place to other destinations in the world, as a ‘biological warfare tactics’. The author has also included his letter to Mr. Bill Gates wherein he is urged to use his personal influence with United Nations (UN) to constitute a high-powered UN Commission on COVID-19. Meanwhile the author clarifies that he is not blaming any government or a group or leveling any allegation or endorsing any media report about the origin of COVID-19, however, he has drawn the UN’s attention to the apprehensions being shown by the international media. As the author chairs the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and was the first to call emergency meeting soon after the confirmation of first two cases of COVID-19 in the country in which he formulated a compressive National Action Plan against Coronavirus for both the federal and provincial government to be implemented to stop the spread of deadly disease in the country. The 37- points National Action Plan is really thought provoking which includes, preventive measures at airports, all entry points, establishment of quarantine centres, provision of PPEs to doctors, paramedics and officials of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) dealing with COVID-19, allocation of separate budget and establishment of central body to coordinate all stockholders which was followed by the formation of National Command Control Center. Though Senator A. Rehman Malik’s fresh book is on a science subject which explains the viruses, bugs, world’s deadliest epidemics, vaccines and genetic engineering, however, it is written in such a simple and plain language that any ordinary reader can understand it easily. The most interesting chapter, I find in “Coronavirus- Threat to National Security” is the one containing precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus and protecting oneself from it as it even includes how to wear a mask and wash hands. For many the ‘biowarfare’ is still a myth but the author explains how virus can be used as warfare and how much disastrous it can be. Keeping in view the economic meltdown and impacts of Coronavirus, the author soon after its outbreak in Pakistan wrote a letter to President Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to remove Pakistan’s name from its grey list in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak and another letter to Secretary-General UN appealing him to use his influence with President FATF for the removal of Pakistan’s name from FATF’s Grey List. The author deserve a great applaud that because of his tireless efforts and appeals, the FATF gave a relief of five months to Pakistan which could be turned into permanent if the government pursue per his advice. It must not be wrong to say that one finds answers to all those questions which arise in the mind about the emergence of Pandemic, possible root causes of its spread, the possibility of it as a manmade biological weapon or naturally grown virus, possible measures to fight against the growing threats to the human lives and its impact on economy.
The Book Coronavirus- Threat to National Security contains a wealth of knowledge about Coronavirus, epidemics and pandemics and is very educative. I wish the government had implemented the 37 points National Action Plan well on time then the situation would have been far different today.
The writer is activist from Parachinar. He tweets @RiazToori
