Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday rubbished the reports of his death after rumours of the politician passing away emerged following ‘hacking’ of the Wikipedia page. In a statement, the foreign minister said that ‘mischievous’ elements had edited his profile on the site. “Many complications were created, and it caused distress to my loved ones and family members,” he said, adding that he also started receiving phone calls. “There is no truth to these reports, and I am doing well,” he said. “I am fine by the Grace of Allah and recovering from Covid-19,” he added.
While Qureshi himself did not specify the changes that were made, the page’s history showed that the edits were made on July 5 to reflect that the foreign minister had died on July 4. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office also issued a statement about the changes made to Qureshi’s profile. “We strongly condemn attempts by mischievous elements to hack [the] Wikipedia page of the foreign minister & spread rumours on social media about his health & well-being,” said FO spokesperson Aisha Farooqui in a tweet. “By the grace of Almighty Allah, [Qureshi] is recovering fast. Everyone’s prayers, from Pakistan & abroad, are deeply appreciated.” Qureshi had tested positive for the coronavirus on July 3. In a tweet, he had said that he had quarantined himself after having a slight fever. “I have now tested positive for Covid-19. By the grace of Allah, I feel strong and energetic. I will continue to carry on my duties from home. Please keep me in your prayers,” he had said.
