Conservative politicians asked people not to travel while the man was in Pakistan – VG

The debate on NRK on Thursday night was about the infection in the country. Towards the end of the program, Afshan Rafiq asked people not to travel abroad.

– I really want to urge everyone involved, not just Pakistani Norwegian, but everyone involved to try to follow the infection control rules. And the second is that if you intend to travel at Easter, it is a great encouragement not to do so. We have a common responsibility to reduce infection, and then everyone must do it, Rafiq said at the Debate.

Several videos of a wedding in Pakistan were posted on social media on Friday afternoon, where many people can be seen without bandages and distance. Aamir Sheikh wears a mask when around other people. When he speaks on stage without a face mask, there is no one around him.

– The subway rule does not apply in Pakistan, but Aamir took responsibility for himself and stayed away from others. The people close to him were close relatives who had had a crown, says Rafiq.

Sick father

Rafiq says Aamir booked a trip to Pakistan just for the New Year due to work. He was also invited to a Nikah ceremony, but he was not sure until the end if he would leave. In addition, he says that the father-in-law’s illness was decisive for the husband’s decision to leave.

– Before his father got sick, he had many doubts about whether he should travel. Only when his father, who had traveled a week earlier, became ill, did he decide to leave. Once there, he held the planned meetings and stopped at the ceremony to say hello, Rafiq says.

But in an interview in November of last year, did you want to go pretty drastic and shut down for weddings and private parties?

– And i mean it. I am not in favor of large collections now, no matter where in the world I am. I myself stay away from big meetings and have hardly been out of Oslo since February last year. So it has been very important to me that you adhere to the infection control rules and that Aamir was careful, says Rafiq.

Aamir Sheikh, her husband, says the event met Pakistani guidelines.

– Was it necessary to go to Nikah?

– I went there very briefly to be with my father. I met as few people as possible, and it was just a short trip on stage and I congratulated my nephew, Sheikh says, and goes on to tell why he traveled to Pakistan:

– Basically I was going on a business trip and then they told me that my father was sick. I urge everyone not to travel, as long as it is not strictly necessary.

Sheikh says he put himself to the test both before leaving Norway and today. He goes home early tomorrow morning to his sick father, but he does not go home if the test is positive.

– Both the father and I have had a crown before, and we would not have traveled to Pakistan if that was not the case. Of course, I will go to quarantined hotels for as long as necessary, says Sheikh.

– I want to encourage everyone who travels to follow the strict guidelines that are, and to be honest and open.

Realize that someone is reacting

The authorities advise against unnecessary travel abroad. According to the government, travel tips are advice, not a ban. It is up to the individual to consider whether they should travel or not.

Afshan Rafiq tells VG that she is responsible for what she said in the debate and that each individual must consider what a necessary trip is. Before the trip, all family members should have consulted their GPs, as several of them have underlying diseases.

But do you understand that people react when you participated in the debate and talked about people not going abroad?

– Yes, I understand that people react considering that it is recommended not to travel. Therefore, it is important for me to be completely open about the difficult evaluations we did. I follow the advice and guidelines. and discourages everyone from traveling. But as long as the trip is necessary and complies with infection control rules, the person should be able to perform these assessments, Rafiq says.

This is what the Foreign Ministry writes about the situation of the crown in Pakistan:

There is a widespread spread of the coronavirus in Pakistan. Norwegian travelers should keep up-to-date through local media and follow the advice and instructions given by the Norwegian and Pakistani authorities, the Foreign Ministry writes on its website. As of January 6, 2021, travelers from Norway were required to present a negative coronation test before departing for Pakistan.

– The best way to stay healthy in Pakistan is to exercise common sense and take general precautions, it says on the website of the Foreign Ministry.