Pakistan National Assembly Speaker tests positive for coronavirus

Pakistan's National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. He confirmed in a tweet that he tested positive for the deadly virus, following which he went into self-isolation.

"I tested positive for coronavirus and quarantined myself in my house. I urge the entire nation to take preventive measures," he wrote on Twitter on Thursday after he received his test report from the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad.

Qaiser's brother Abdul Wahid told The Express Tribune that the NA speaker's son and daughter were also tested positive and have been quarantined.

Qaiser's brother-in-law and sister had earlier been diagnosed with COVID-19.

In violation of the government's guidelines of social distancing, Qaiser had reportedly hosted Iftar-dinner at his residence on Monday.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail had also tested positive three days back.

Pakistan so far reported 16,353 coronavirus cases and 361 deaths.