Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad was admitted to CMH Rawalpindi after his health deteriorated late on Saturday night.

The announcement was made by Sheikh Rashid’s spokesman. Sheikh Rashid has been suffering from coronavirus infection for a week or so and he was in isolation at home.

Sheikh Rashid had announced on his Twitter account on Monday that he has tested positive for COVID-19, joining a growing list of politicians who have contracted the disease in Pakistan. Sheikh Rashid tweeted: “I have been tested positive for COVID-19 though I have no symptoms of COVID-19, whatsoever. I am fine, Alhamdulillah. Need your prayers.”

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Railways, Rashid was showing no symptoms of the virus. However, he decided to isolate himself for two weeks.

Sheikh Rashid is the founding chairman of his political party, Awami Muslim Legue (AML). He entered into a political alliance with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf during the 2018 general elections. Imran later appointed the 69-year-old veteran politician to the post of Federal Minister for Railways.