Shah Mahmood Qureshi rubbishes rumours of his death after Wikipedia page edited

Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who contracted COVID-19 last week, has rubbished rumours of his death after his Wikipedia profile was edited, and said there was no truth to them.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Foreign Office (FO) said that “mischievous” elements had edited Qureshi’s profile on the site. “Many complications were created, and it caused distress to my loved ones and family members,” FM Qureshi said in a separate statement, adding that he also started receiving phone calls.

“There is no truth to these reports, and I am doing well,” he said.

While Qureshi 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.

“We strongly condemn attempts by mischievous elements to hack [the] Wikipedia page of the foreign minister and spread rumours on social media about his health and well-being,” said FO spokesperson Aisha Farooqui in a tweet.

We strongly condemn attempts by mischievous elements to hack Wikipedia page of FM @SMQureshiPTI & spread rumours on social media about his health & well-being.

By grace of Almighty Allah, FM is recovering fast. Everyone’s prayers, from 🇵🇰 & abroad, are deeply appreciated.

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 9, 2020

“By the grace of Almighty Allah, [Qureshi] is recovering fast. Everyone’s prayers, from Pakistan and abroad, are deeply appreciated.”

The FM had tested positive for coronavirus on July 3 and announced quarantining himself.