Friday, Shahbaz Taseer defended Pakistan while engaging in a heated Twitter debate with an Indian pro-government Twitter account over racial profiling. During the argument, Shahbaz Taseer also highlighted Pakistan’s role in defeating terrorists.
The debate began when Shahbaz Taseer, son of former governor of Punjab Salman Taseer, recalled how he was “racially profiled” by the US. Commenting on a post about passport privilege, Taseer stated that the FBI arrested him on a plane. The FBI then spent 10 hours in interrogation.
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“I spent 10 hours in FBI detention as a suspected terrorist before they realized they racially profiled a sitting governor’s son,” Shahbaz Taseer wrote.
My father was the sitting governor when I was arrested in the US on “suspicion of trying to blow up a plane” with an official Pakistani passport. I spent 10 hours in FBI detention as a suspected terrorist before they realized the racially profiled a sitting governors son 🤷🏻♂️😂 https://t.co/8BaiYVZzOj
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) November 12, 2021
On this note, the Indian Twitterati taunted Shahbaz Taseer by saying that rules applied to everyone in the US irrespective of social status.
“That is the difference between US and Pakistan. Back home in Pakistan, you could tell the cop “Pata nahin main kaun hoon?” And you could even make the cop polish your shoes. In the US, the rules apply uniformly to everyone irrespective of status,” the tweet read.
The tweet aimed to highlight how the elite are able to escape accountability due to their social status.
Bro this doesn’t apply to being racially profiled
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) November 12, 2021
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Moreover, the Indian said that what Shehbaz Taseer went through was not racial profiling since “Islam/Muslims is not a race.”
He further stated that the FBI arrested Shahbaz Taseer due to his Pakistani passport.
“It must have to do with the Pakistani passport you were carrying. That country gained notoriety over a period of time as a terror hub,” the Indian said.
You cannot assume something when a persons passport and details are infront of you and you arrest them without questioning for ten hours. Racial profiling is not part of a system. It is wrong and the argument of being treated equally does not apply!
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) November 12, 2021
Pakistan successfully defeated terrorists: Shahbaz Taseer
Shahbaz Taseer did not hold back. He clarified that he was specifically detained for being a “Pakistani brown Muslim.”
Furthermore, Shahbaz Taseer said that Pakistan is the only country in the world to successfully defeat terrorists. He also lambasted the Indian by saying such backward thinking is the reason for the racial profiling of Pakistanis.
“This kind of backward, stupid mindset is the sole reason for our racial profiling,” Shahbaz Taseer hit back.
I was detained for being a Pakistani brown Muslim, my country is not notorious with being a terror hub but being the the only country in the world to successfully defeat terrorists. Thus this kind of backward stupid mindset is the sole reason for our racial profiling.
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) November 12, 2021
Pertinent to note, Pakistan significantly contributed to the global fight against terrorism while suffering severe consequences itself. The country’s contributions are recognized globally. Recently, the Argentine Ambassador to Pakistan Leopoldo Francisco Sahores appreciated Pakistan’s role in establishing peace in the region and eradicating terrorism.