PTI leader and former Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari has apparently been questioned for meeting Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Danila Ganich.
Taking to Twitter, Shireen Mazari revealed that after meeting the Russian Ambassador, men from the Special Branch came and questioned the PTI leader’s guard regarding the Russian Ambassador.
Shireen Mazari revealed that men from the Special Branch asked her guard the timings of Russian Ambassador Danila Ganach’s arrival and departure.
Read more: Imran Khan’s Russia visit among reasons for ouster: Russian Ambassador
“Had an interesting meeting with the Russian Ambassador His Excellency Danila Ganich. Seems we are living in a police state because soon after some men from Special Branch came to ask who was the ambassador, what time did he come, and what time did he leave! My poor guard knew nothing,” Shireen Mazari said.
Had an interesting meeting with the Russian ambassador HE Excellency Danila Ganich. Seems we are living in a police state because soon after some men from Special Branch came to ask who was the ambassador, what time did he come & what time did he leave! My poor guard knew nothing pic.twitter.com/5fQN9uSjDJ
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) September 14, 2022
The PTI leader also criticized the Special Branch, claiming that such incidents happened during the era of the USSR – a time when there were strict checks on people meeting anyone from the Soviet Union. Shireen Mazari also called the Special Branch’s inquisition absurd because she had meetings with EU and UK ambassadors, but there were no repercussions.
“This happened in decades of USSR. Any time we met anyone from the Soviet embassy Special Branch arrived! Didn’t realize our state was still in that mode! Because I have had meetings with EU & UK envoys but no Special Branch visited to question! Why this absurdity exists?” Shireen Mazari questioned.Â
It remains unclear why the PTI leader’s meeting with the Russian Ambassador drew special attention because Pakistan and Russia enjoy close, friendly, and cooperative relations and bilateral relations are marked by mutual respect, trust, and convergence of views on most international and regional issues. However, Pakistan’s close ties with Russia have resulted in US disapproval which is Russia’s number one rival.
Moreover, PTI has often accused the incumbent government of hatching a conspiracy with the US to oust its Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan from office due to his refusal to appease US and his visit to Russia during the peak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Read more: PTI again demands judicial probe after DG ISPR claims no US conspiracy