KARACHI: Six officials of the district administration in Khairpur were suspended for having a selfie with their colleague who tested positive for coronavirus, according to officials and a document issued on Sunday.

They said the deputy commissioner issued a notification ordering suspension of six tapedars (revenue officials) from different areas of the district who unknowingly held a close meeting with one of their colleagues who had returned from Iran and later tested positive for the deadly virus.

“Due to the information received through social media regarding selfie by the revenue staff with Irshad Ali Rajpar, resident of Kot Diji, who recently returned from Iran and was reported as positive case of coronavirus, the following staff in the selfie are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect,” said the notification naming all the six officials.

An official privy to the development said the six officials had in fact paid a visit to their colleague at his home as a goodwill gesture over his return from pilgrimage after almost a month.

“By that time, he was not showing any symptoms of the virus neither had complained about any unwellness. As a trend these days, all the six colleagues and the host took a selfie. A few of them later posted that picture on their social media account. When the man tested positive a few days ago, all those who were in contact with him were being spotted and isolated,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2020