'Mischievous' rumours of FM Qureshi's death slammed

Shortly after contracting Covid-19, top diplomat's Wikipedia page edited to say he died July 4, alleges MoFa

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan on Thursday denounced "mischievous" attempts to change the Wikipedia page of its top diplomat to say he had died a day after testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

"We strongly condemn attempts by mischievous elements to hack Wikipedia page of FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi & spread rumours on social media about his health & well-being," tweeted Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Aisha Farooqui, underlining that Qureshi was quickly recovering from the virus.

We strongly condemn attempts by mischievous elements to hack Wikipedia page of FM @SMQureshiPTI & spread rumours on social media about his health & well-being.

By grace of Almighty Allah, FM is recovering fast. Everyone’s prayers, from 🇵🇰 & abroad, are deeply appreciated.

— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) July 9, 2020

The ministry posted the screenshot of the edited version of Qureshi's page reading that he died on July 4.

On July 3, Qureshi tested positive for the coronavirus and quarantined himself at his home.

This afternoon I felt a slight fever and immediately quarantined myself at home. I have now tested positive for Covid 19. By the grace of Allah, I feel strong and energetic. I will continue to carry on my duties from home. Please keep me in your prayers.

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) July 3, 2020

"This afternoon I felt a slight fever and immediately quarantined myself at home. I have now tested positive for Covid 19. By the grace of Allah, I feel strong and energetic. I will continue to carry on my duties from home. Please keep me in your prayers," Qureshi had said on Twitter.

Qureshi joined the long list of Pakistani politicians who have been infected by the contagion, which was first detected in the country back in February.

Last month, Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif was tested positive. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president had quarantined himself at his residence in Model Town, Lahore after the diagnosis.

PML-N stalwart Attaullah Tarar, who was also tested positive but later recovered, had claimed that Shehbaz had not met anyone except for his appearance before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on June 9.

On June 8, former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed were also diagnosed with the contagious disease.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sharjeel Memon also tested positive for the contagion. Memon, who has served as provincial minister in the past, is the Sindh government’s focal person for coronavirus in Hyderabad.

MQM lawmaker Shahana Ashar and Faisal Sabzwari also fell prey to coronavirus.

In May, member of Punjab Assembly Shaukat Manzoor Cheema succumbed to the disease, after a month-long battle with the deadly virus.

MPA in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly Mian Jamsheduddin Kakakhel, and Sindh human settlement minister Ghulam Murtaza Baloch also lost their lives to the virus in the same week.

Four other members of the K-P Assembly, Faisal Zeb Khan, Salahuddin Khan, Zeenat Bibi, and Jamshed Khan, had also tested positive for the virus.