Tableeghi Jamaat members test positive in Sindh after obtaining clearance from other provinces

The three members of the missionary group have been shifted to a quarantine centre

KARACHI: Three members of the Tableeghi Jamaat, who were earlier in quarantine in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), have tested positive for the novel coronavirus after being tested in Sindh on their return to the province.

The three individuals were issued clearance certificates by Bacha Khan Medical Complex after the completion of their quarantine period. The members of the missionary group belong to Tando Mohammad Khan.

"Three people whose names start with Z, J and M have tested positive. The diagnostic and research laboratory, Liaquat University of Medical Health and Sciences in Jamshoro, had conducted the recent tests and found them positive," an official of the Sindh health department told The Express Tribune.



The official earlier said that around eight of 10 members of the Tableeghi Jamaat from Kasur in Punjab had also tested positive after getting clearance certificates, and were shifted to quarantine centre in Sukkur.

The provincial health department had decided to reconduct tests for all individuals entering Sindh from other provinces, citing past experience with Taftan pilgrims.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had also discussed this issue with Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umer on Tuesday.

Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that the federal minister has assured the Sindh CM that he would take up this issue to the highest forum and also appraise Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The meeting also decided to develop a database pertaining to coronavirus cases.

The Sindh government had already expressed concern with the federal government on providing faulty testing kits for Covid-19 earlier and not conducting proper tests of suspected coronavirus patients coming from KP and Punjab.



"The Sindh government, within two hours of receiving the kits, had informed the federal government that these kits were not appropriate for clinical examination as advised by the expert doctors and stated in the prescription note for the kits," said Senator Murtaza Wahab.

Wahab added that the kits received were of "sub-standard quality".

However, Pakistan Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and prime minister’s aide, Shahbaz Gill while speaking to media said that there was no issue with the testing kits.

“They are perfect,” Gill claimed. “I wonder why it took the Sindh government two weeks to declare them unfit."