Shehbaz, Khurram Sher Zaman test Covid positive

PML-N says party president contracted virus while being questioned by NAB

LAHORE: The number of parliamentarians contracting the novel coronavirus appears to be growing with Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif testing positive for Covid-19 just a day ahead of the federal budget.

Khurram Sher Zaman, the president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Karachi chapter and member of the Sindh Assembly also tweeted that he has tested positive for the respiratory disease.

“Get well soon” wishes poured in from political, military and international leaders for Shehbaz.

They called to express concern over PML-N president’s health and to wish him a speedy recovery from the novel coronavirus.

Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa inquired after Shehbaz's health.

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandwiwala and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser wished Shehbaz the best of health.

Also, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing wished the PML-N president a speedy recovery. Shehbaz thanked him for his concern and expressed satisfaction over his current health.

Balochistan National Party's Sardar Akhtar Mengal also called to inquire after Shehbaz's health and prayed for his fast recovery from Covid-19.

As soon as Shehbaz’s test results came out, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) did not waste any time in holding the National Accountability Bureau responsible for the transmission of the respiratory disease, saying that the bureau called Shehbaz in for questioning despite several requests to hold a video conference.

PML-N Deputy General Secretary Attaullah Tarar requested the public to offer prayers for the quick recovery of the opposition leader and blamed NAB for endangering Shehbaz’s life by calling him in for questioning in the graft cases against him.

He said NAB was informed in writing several times to conduct the investigation via video link as Shehbaz was a cancer survivor and his immunity level was low.

He said that apart from the NAB visit on June 9 owing to his call-up notice, neither had he gone anywhere nor did he meet anyone. “If anything happens to Mian Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister Imran Khan will be held responsible,” he added.

Later, holding a press conference, Tarar said, “Shehbaz tested negative after appearing before the Lahore High Court, however, after the NAB visit, tests came back positive.”

The PML-N deputy general secretary said that upon his return from London, Shehbaz was served notices by NAB.

He blamed NAB for working on behest of Premier Imran and questioned that why Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar came to Lahore two days before NAB raided Shehbaz’s residence and asked him to reveal if he had met NAB officials in Lahore.

He asked the reason behind issuing Shehbaz’s arrest warrant on May 28 when he was to be called in for questioning on June 2?

He said Shehbaz was arrested for 130 days in a similar assets beyond means case.

“We submitted detailed proof of his innocence and requested holding questioning via video link, however, NAB said that Shehbaz should come personally.”

He said that NAB on a private news channel claimed that Shehbaz confessed to his crimes. “Where is the proof of corruption?”

He said corruption aside, not a single rupee was embezzled from the government exchequer. “As Shehbaz paid millions in taxes, NAB’s statement of probing him for paying more taxes is strange.” “Knowing that coronavirus is growing exponentially, what is the point in ridiculing a cancer survivor.” He asked whether Imran Khan wanted to end the lives of his opponents.

According to his party, Shehbaz has quarantined himself at his residence in Model Town, Lahore.

In the Punjab Assembly, PML-N MPA Rabia Naeem Farooqi moved a resolution, fixing the responsibility for Shehbaz contracting Covid-19 on NAB.

Hamza Shehbaz said, “May Allah grant every one with good health. These are difficult times for Pakistan.”

PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah also held prayers for Shehbaz’s health.

He too fixed the responsibility for Shehbaz contracting the infection on Premier Imran and the NAB chairman. He also prayed for the early recovery of other PML-N leaders as well.

Maryam Nawaz, the vice president of PML-N, expressed her concerns on Twitter, saying that the fact that he came back from London despite being well aware of the pettiness and vindictiveness establishes that he was not evading accountability in any way.

“If it were accountability intended, you wouldn’t have risked his life. Shame!”

She said Shehbaz has contracted Covid-19, which proves that his apprehensions were not unfounded. “Those who imperiled his already frail health knowing his susceptibility, will have to answer for this and for everything one day. May Allah restore him and all affected to perfect health.”

Further, four leaders, who had met Shehbaz on 3 June, have already been tested positive for coronavirus.

The recent victim of coronavirus was PML-N General Secretary Ahsan Iqbal, who tested positive on Wednesday.

Prior to Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb contracted coronavirus whereas a day before that former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former Capital Administration and Development minister Tariq Fazal Chuadhry tested positive.

Marriyum suspected that she, Abbasi and Chuadhry might have contracted coronavirus from court during Shehbaz’s hearing.

According to another leader, all four leaders -- Ahsan, Marriyum, Chaudhry and Abbassi – travelled to Islamabad in one car after the hearing.

It was told that all the four leaders went to Shehbaz’s residence at 96 H Model Town from where in one car they left for Islamabad.

It was further told that both Shehbaz, Ahsan and Marriyum tested negative for coronavirus last Friday, however, after Abbasi and Chadhry tested positive, Marriyum and Ahsan again went for a retest, which eventually turned out to be Covid-19 positive.

PML-N, Punjab spokesperson Azma Bukhari said that Shehbaz tested negative after the hearing, “so it is the NAB visit”.

When asked that Marriyum also tested negative after the hearing but in another test, she was Covid-19 positive, Azma said the possibility cannot be ruled out.

She said that there was a specific time period in which coronavirus remains alive in the body, and given the hearing was a week back so that could not have been the case.

She said that Shehbaz does not have any symptoms at the moment, but given his age and that he is a cancer survivor, his doctors in London would be contacted.