Top Pakistani politicians testing positive for Covid-19

Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) president and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed on Thursday. Sharif has isolated himself at home, she added.

Party leader Ataullah Tarar also confirmed the development and said Sharif's "life had been endangered in this situation by NAB's summoning of him", reports the Dawn.

"NAB was informed multiple times in writing that Shehbaz Sharif has suffered from cancer and compared to other people, his immunity system is weak," Tarar said and added that Sharif had only left home to appear before NAB.

Sharif had thrice refused to appear before NAB citing health reasons. In a statement submitted to the bureau, he said, "It has been widely reported in the media that some NAB officials have tested positive for Covid-19.

"Please appreciate [that] I am a cancer survivor and 69 years old. I have been advised limited exposure on account of the peculiar background of low immunity," he said.

He added that he was available to answer any queries by the investigation team via Skype.

Meanwhile, President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Karachi chapter and member Sindh Assembly Khurram Sher Zaman has also tested positive for Covid-19, he said in a tweet.

Multiple politicians, including members of the ruling PTI, have been diagnosed with the virus in Pakistan as the government insists on easing lockdown against doctors' advice. More than 117,000 people have tested positive across the country since the first case emerged on February 26.