Chief Minister Usman Buzdar tests positive for coronavirus

• Punjab CM Usman Buzdar tests positive for coronavirus
• CM Buzdar's aide, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan criticises PDM for holding jalsas amid the coronavirus pandemic 

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, sources of the Chief Minister House confirmed on Monday. 

"A sample of the chief minister was taken today for the [coronavirus] test after after he felt ill," said the source. "The chief minister had quarantined himself after feeling sick."

Read more: Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan blames PDM for Usman Buzdar contracting coronavirus

Reacing to news of the chief minister contracting the infection, Dr Firdous fired shots at the Opposition's alliance, blaming them for being wreckless and holding jalsas at a time when the entire country was gripped by the second wave of the pandemic. 

"The results of PDM's activities of spreading coronavirus through jalsas has been received. Despite taking all precautions, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar has contracted coronavirus. All of us are praying for his speedy recovery," she said.

The government has appealed to the Opposition to suspend its jalsas as coronavirus cases across the country rise.

The Opposition, on the other hand, has refused to suspend its political gatherings and rallies, instead calling on Prime Minister Imran Khan to step down before they launch a long march to Islamabad to force him to go home. 

Pakistan, like many other countries around the globe, is braving the second wave of the coronavirus. 

Pakistan's health ministry revealed that 80 more people had died on Saturday, bringing the country's total death toll to 9,330.