NEW DELHI: An upsurge in Covid-19 cases as well as fatalities and a viral photograph of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in London made headlines in Pakistan last week. The expulsion of two Pakistan envoys by India over spying charge and locust attacks in many regions were among the other things that made news across the border.
Here is a weekly round-up of developments in Pakistan:
1
Pakistan reports 2,964 new coronavirus cases
Pakistan’s coronavirus cases on Monday crossed the 72,00-mark with 2,964 new patients while the death toll climbed to 1,543 after 60 people lost their lives in the last 24 hours, health officials said.
According to the ministry of national health services, 2,964 new infections surfaced over the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally of coronavirus to 72,460.
The death toll reached 1,543 after 60 more deaths were reported during the last 24 hours.
According to the ministry, 28,245 cases have been diagnosed in Sindh, 26,240 in Punjab, 10,027 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 4,393 in Balochistan, 2,589 in Islamabad, 711 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 255 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The ministry showed that 26,083 patients have been recovered so far from the virus. The authorities have conducted 561,136 tests, including 14,398 in the last 24 hours.
2
Nawaz Sharif’s leaked photo sparks debate over his health
A new picture of Pakistan’s ‘ailing’ former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif having tea at a London cafe along with his family went viral on social media, sparking a debate on his health with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf members demanding his return to face corruption cases.
In the picture, the 70-year-old three-time premier is seen sitting at a roadside café with his granddaughters. He sported a blue salwar kameez and a cap and apparently looked in better health.
Some ministers got skeptical about the serious nature of