ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The emergence of Coronavirus Symptoms in a member of Tableeghi Jamaat stationed at a mosque in Bhara Kahu triggered a prompt action by the Islamabad administration, leading to the sealing of two mosques wherein the group had been staying.
Last week, a group of foreigners also accompanied by locals arrived at Makki Masjid (Mosque) located in Ghulam Muhammad Abad area of Bhara Kahu, some eight kilometers north of the Jinnah Convention Centre Islamabad, for a three-day preaching.
Later they shifted to Bilal Masjid in the adjoining Kot Hathial area for another three days. In the meantime, a 55-year-old Kyrgyz member of the Tableeghi Jamaat named Abdul Momin began having a cough issue; therefore, he along with few other members went to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for medical checkup.
Also Read: Lockdown imposed in Bhara Kahu after Tableeghi Jamaat Members Tested Positive for COVID-19
Just or two days after they returned from PIMS, the hospital management approached them and apprised that Abdul Momin might have developed Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptoms.
After a while, the Assistant Commission (AC) Islamabad Asadullah along with police officials, a team of the National Institute of Health (NIH) and Edhi ambulances reached Bilal Masjid and transported all the Tableeghi Jamaat members initially to Haji Camp and then to PIMS wherein all of them were tested for Coronavirus.
The results revealed that Abdul Momin was tested positive for the COVID-19 while the rest of his mates were found to be negative.
The PIMS management shifted Abdul Momin to an Isolation Ward while the rest returned to Bilal Masjid for self-quarantine as per the advice of doctors.
The Islamabad administration also issued directives to seal Bilal Majid as well as Makki Masjid for the next 14 days as the group had earlier stayed there prior to moving towards the next destination but the directives were not complied with letter and spirit.
Therefore, the AC Islamabad Asadullah again along with the District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zaeem, the NIH team, and Razakar Ghulam Abbas Jadoon reached Bhara Kahu on Sunday to ensure the implementation of orders for sealing the mosques.
Disinfecting the mosque. Terrible lapse and criminal carelessness on part of the Khateeb and Tableeghi jamat. They knew that one of them had symptoms and they kept on roaming around https://t.co/LhaCyCsFYF pic.twitter.com/uWOPKNYrsk
— Deputy Commissioner Islamabad (@dcislamabad) March 22, 2020
The visiting team met the mosques administrations and worshipers, and persuaded them to comply with preventive measures as these have been devised for their own safety.
They also fumigated both mosques and the adjoining streets wherein the members of Tableeghi Jamaat had roamed around.
Talking to the Dispatch News Desk (DND) news agency, Muhammad Irshad, who is serving as a muezzin in Makki Masjid and another local resident Sardar Faizan Khan told that the foreigners group had been in Pakistan for last four months.
They said that therefore, it’s very much likely that one of them was infected with the Coronavirus in Pakistan rather than importing the virus from abroad.
