–Punjab Assembly deputy speaker goes into self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: At least two members of the National Assembly tested positive for the coronavirus a day ahead of the Lower House session to discuss the COVID-19 crisis.
Reportedly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) lawmaker from Bajaur, Gul Zafar Khan, and Mehboob Shah tested positive for COVID-19.
All members of the upper and lower houses of the parliament were instructed to get tested for the virus before attending their scheduled sessions to avert a potential risk of spreading the infection among other lawmakers. A special team of the National Institute of Health (NIH) had taken swab samples of parliamentarians on Friday and the results came out on Sunday.
The NIH made a gaffe when coronavirus test reports of two similar named lawmakers were mixed up. Earlier, it was reported that MNA Mehmood Shah was declared coronavirus positive whereas he had received a prior testing report declaring him coronavirus free. Later, it was revealed MNA Mehboob Shah was the one who actually tested positive for coronavirus and his report was mistakenly sent to Mehmood Shah.
Mehmood Shah said that the mess up caused undue duress to his family and loved ones and is now relieved to find out that he is in the clear.
Earlier in the day, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari confirmed to have tested positive for the virus.
“I had got tested for coronavirus upon return from Dubai on April 28 and was declared negative. I took another test after a week, which turned out to be positive for the disease,” Mazari said.
On April 30, National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser had tested positive for coronavirus. “My coronavirus test has come back positive. I have quarantined myself in my house,” Qaiser had tweeted.
‘POSTPONE PARLIAMENTARY SESSIONS’:
Meanwhile, Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla suggested that the NA and Senate sessions should be postponed.
“The virus has reached the parliamentary galleries,” he said while expressing his concern on reports of parliamentarians and assembly staffers contracting coronavirus. “More lawmakers and staffers are likely to be affected from the virus.”
He warned that summoning a session at the time could have serious consequences.
The deputy chairman said that the proceedings of both the houses of the parliament should be delayed and steps should be taken so that no one enters the premises without being tested.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said that the opposition’s demand for holding a parliamentary session amid the dangerous coronavirus situation was just “political point scoring”.
While talking to a private television channel, he said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was insisting on holding the session to gain political mileage. “It is just a political move to gain importance at this critical juncture when social distancing and other standard operating procedures (SoPs) are imperative to follow,” he said, adding that the session could be called after a few days.
The minister said that relaxing lockdown was a risky act but keeping in view the miseries of poor masses, the government had to take a tough decision.
