On Thursday, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and will be isolating himself with mild symptoms.
Confirming the news through Twitter, he tweeted, both in English and Urdu: “I have tested positive for #COVIDー19 & am self-isolating with mild symptoms. I‘ll continue working from home & will be addressing PPP foundation day via video link. Wear a mask everyone, see you on the other side IA.”
I have tested positive for #COVIDー19 & am self isolating with mild symptoms. I‘ll continue working from home & will be addressing PPP foundation day via video link. Wear a mask everyone, see you on the other side IA 🙏
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) November 26, 2020
Bilawal had already gone into self-isolation after his political secretary, Jamal Soomro had tested positive for the virus. Kamran Khan, a senior journalist said that the chairman caught the virus after the Pakistan Democratic Movement Jalsa in Peshawar, which they held regardless of warnings from the provincial government.
This development comes just days before Bakhtawar Bhutto’s engagement ceremony, which the PPP chief will now have to miss. Peoples Party’s president, Asif Ali Zardari has made it compulsory for the guests to come with a negative corona test. Shahbaz Gill, the special assistant to the Prime Minister, said that it is quite disturbing to see the difference is shown between the ‘common’ man and the guests for Bakhtawar’s engagement.
Read more: PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto diagnosed with COVID-19: reports
In his tweet, Bilawal said that he will still be addressing the Multan Jalsa, which is to be held on 30th November via video link. However, Multan is reported to have the highest corona cases in the country.
Bilawal’s corona test takes social media by storm
Many have come out to criticize this move by PPP. Senior journalist, Meher Bokhari, said in her tweet that wedding guests were required to bring a PCR test, but the people coming to the jalsa were just to wear a mask. “Alas, children of a lesser God, indeed” she tweeted.
What hypocrisy is this? For sister's wedding negative COVID19 PCR test is mandatory for attendance & for Multan Jalsa, come one come all, just wear a mask! Y not have wedding guests just wear a mask too instead of emailing covid test results? Alas, children of a lesser God indeed pic.twitter.com/w571HlPkyd
— Meher Bokhari (@meherbokhari) November 24, 2020
Bilawal Bhutto has come under the scrutiny of the public, as he and the opposition remain determined to hold a jalsa in multan. Many have called on PPP and leaders for their double standards against the common population.
unbelievable irresponsibility- despite testing positive he still encourages PPP stalwarts to go for a Jalsa 😡 https://t.co/5jevkilAJe
— Najma Minhas (@MinhasNajma) November 26, 2020
And what about the people who attended their jalsa? As every single person is channeled with so many other people. What a mess they've done to their own people. https://t.co/FKdhKOd6l6
— Sandhiya. (@sandhiya_altaf) November 26, 2020
Despite criticism, many have wished the PPP Chairman a speedy recovery, but have also reminded him to be considerate of the lives of the public and hold off political activities and PDM jalsas.
May you get well soon and I hope you will act responsibly and try to convince your PDM fellas to postpone the jalsas because if you can contract the virus public can too. Be careful, avoid large public gatherings and follow SOPs. https://t.co/UXNsJaVTOV
— Shiffa Z. Yousafzai (@Shiffa_ZY) November 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/dejectedmemon/status/1331845490472853504
The number of Corona cases has been on a rise, and the second wave of Covid-19 has taken on Pakistan with its full potential. The total number of confirmed cases have increased to 386,198 and the total number of deaths has reached an alarming figure of 7,843.
PPP and the opposition remain rigid on holding the Multan Jalsa amid the disturbing statistics of corona cases.