News Analysis |
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is under heavy public criticism after he made “objectionable” remarks against the state of Pakistan. The PPP chairperson had claimed that the government did not arrest the leaders of the banned religious outfits but took them into “protective custody” to save them from Indian jets.
“They have been taken into protective custody so that the Indian planes don’t blow them up,” Bilawal told reporters in Islamabad on Wednesday. The PPP chairperson was commenting on the federal government’s recent crackdown on banned outfits, including Jaish-e-Mohammad and Jamaatud Dawah.
Journalists, public intellectuals and common Pakistanis raised several questions about the statement the PPP chairperson has made and demanded him to publically apologise.
On February 26, Indian planes violated Pakistani airspace and dropped their payload in Balakot before fleeing back to India. The Modi government said that the planes were there to target a seminary linked with Masood Azhar’s JeM. But later on, international media and independent observers clarified that the payload was dropped in a forest area.
Independent observers and media had reported that only 12 trees had been destroyed and one crow was killed in that incident. Moreover, Pakistan responded to Indian aggression the next day by shooting down its two jets and arresting one piolet who was later on released as a “goodwill gesture” by Islamabad.
After Bilawal’s controversial and allegedly anti-Pakistan comments the hashtag #PPPExposed started trending. Journalists, public intellectuals and common Pakistanis raised several questions about the statement the PPP chairperson has made and demanded him to publically apologise.
Read more: Bilawal playing to the anti-Pakistan gallery: PTI senator
Dr. Moeed Pirzada, a prominent anchorperson, tweeted “Bilawal’s discourse, & unthinking use of words and phrases is damaging his nascent political brand & risking his political future; his unguided press conferences are exposing his immaturity, lack of training; Zardari was always careful in selecting his words & expressions..”
Bilawal's discourse, & unthinking use of words and phrases is damaging his nascent political brand & risking his political future; his unguided press conferences are exposing his immaturity, lack of training; Zardari was always careful in selecting his words & expressions..
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) March 20, 2019
In another tweet, he predicted that the PPP chairperson will in future regret what he has carelessly stated at the moment.
“Some remain children at heart! Bilawal just said: ‘leaders of banned organizations have been arrested in Pakistan to prevent the possibility of Indian planes blowing them off’ -Indians will laugh, wise PPP men will mourn in silence, and Bilawal will regret these words for years,” Pirzada said.
Some remain children at heart! Bilawal just said: "leaders of banned organizations have been arrested in Pakistan to prevent the possibility of Indian planes blowing them off" -Indians will laugh, wise PPP men will mourn in silence, and Bilawal will regret these words for years
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) March 20, 2019
Journalist Anwar Lodhi shared Bilawal’s statement with a seemingly sarcastic remark, “Pakistanis, he wants to be your Prime Minister”.
پاکستانیو! یہ شخص آپ کا وزیراعظم بننا چاہتا ہے pic.twitter.com/lU96cawBOh
— Anwar Lodhi (@AnwarLodhi) March 20, 2019
A social media user reminded the PPP chairperson that Pakistan is in safe hands. “Pakistan is in the safe hands of @ImranKhanPTI and @OfficialDGISPR, you @BBhuttoZardari should be charged for you anti-state comments,” he said.
Pakistan is in the safe hands of @ImranKhanPTI and @OfficialDGISPR, you @BBhuttoZardari should be charged for you anti state comments.#PPPExposed pic.twitter.com/84sE7uWtcO
— Afrasyab Satti (@Afrasyabsatti) March 20, 2019
A Pakistani observed that “Did not see a difference between Altaf Hussain & Bilawal Zardari today. This ignorant fool is losing his mind & is soon going to end his short & useless political career if there is one.”
Did not see a difference between Altaf Hussain & Bilawal Zardari today. This ignorant fool is losing his mind & is soon going to end his short & useless political career if there is one. #WeStandWithNAB #Bilawal #PPPExposed
— Avengers (@NomanNaseerN) March 20, 2019
In a talk-show, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and State Minister for Environment and Climate Change Zartaj Gul asked, “was Bilawal inviting Indian jets to come into Pakistan and target those he (Bilawal) claims …[are] terrorists?”.
https://youtu.be/Mhq2Btc6djs
She completely rejected the statements of the PPP chairperson and demanded him to apologise to the whole nation.
An anti-Pakistan narrative at the regional and global level, when backed by the statements of national leaders, becomes inherently convincing.
Dr. Pirzada, who hosts a TV talk show “Live with Moeed Pirzada”, also maintained that the PPP chairperson should at least confess to his mistake that his selection of words was incorrect.
Political analysts believe that the narrative being projected by the PPP chairperson and supported by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is helpful for none other than but Indian media. An anti-Pakistan narrative at the regional and global level, when backed by the statements of national leaders, becomes inherently convincing.
Read more: Bilawal cries foul: Asad Umar denies ties with banned outfits
Recently, Indian legal counsel presented the statements of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif regarding Mumbai attacks in Kulbhushan Yadav’s case. Therefore, Pakistanis are now staging an online protest and demanding the PPP chairperson to take his irresponsible statement back and offer an unconditional apology.