The critics of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government have joined the chorus against Prime Minister Imran Khan as he slammed the dual standards of the Western countries including the European Union and the United States (US).
PM Imran Khan had criticised the dual standards of the West in the wake of recent global developments after the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
While addressing a public gathering in Mailsi yesterday, PM Imran Khan slammed the West after a joint letter of the heads of 22 diplomatic missions including those of EU member states urged Pakistan to condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine and support a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The premier had reiterated that Pakistan will not accept any dictation on its foreign policy. He also censured the West for showing criminal silence over the atrocities in the Indian occupied Kashmir.
Following his statement, the opposition leaders and critics launched criticism against PM Khan.
Senior journalist and anchorperson Syed Talat Hussain wrote on Twitter, “The cheap populist rhetoric abt ‘independent foreign policy’ is an apology for backing Putin’s aggression. This will cost Pakistan dearly. Also to say that no trust move is “US agenda” is a fraud ironically, peddled by those whose life is spent sucking up to US and ‘the West.’”
The cheap populist rhetoric abt “independent foreign policy” is an apology for backing Putin’s aggression. This will cost Pakistan dearly. Also to say that no trust move is “US agenda” is a fraud ironically, peddled by those whose life is spent sucking up to US and “the West.”
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) March 6, 2022
He said in another tweet, “Hollow arrogance is not strategy. Hurt ego is not national interest. Loving Putin is not independent policy. The voluminous trash being churned out in the name of ‘neutrality’ will come back to haunt us. Never has political stupidity hijacked the country so totally as now.”
Hollow arrogance is not strategy. Hurt ego is not national interest. Loving Putin is not independent policy. The voluminous trash being churned out in the name of “neutrality” will come back to haunt us. Never has political stupidity hijacked the country so totally as now.
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) March 6, 2022
Adil Shahzeb wrote that the prime minister should keep the matters related to foreign affairs away from his political rallies. He criticised that he should keep going on to criticise the opposition but not countries to create more troubles for Pakistan. He was of the view that PM’s speeches would give a unbearable loss to the country.
وزیراعظم صاحب امور خارجہ کو جلسوں سے دوررکھیں، اپوزیشن کو لتاڑتے رہیں لیکن ممالک کو پبلک جلسوں میں لتاڑنے سے پاکستان کو دلدل میں مزید نہ دھنسائیں۔بطور وزیراعظم آپکی ایسی تقاریر ناقابل تلافی نقصان پہنچائیں گی۔اسوقت ہمیں تحمل سے خارجہ پالیسی کو آگے بڑھانا ہے نہ کہ جلسوں میں لتاڑ کر
— Adil Shahzeb (@adilshahzeb) March 6, 2022
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) General-Secretary Ahsan Iqbal criticised PM Khan’s speech in Mailsi and his address will add fuel to the fire after diplomatically isolating Pakistan.
۰ میلسی میں ایٹمی طاقت کے وزیر اعظم کا خطاب تھا یا کسی فلمی مولا جٹ کا؟
۰ کیا پاکستان کو سفارتی سطح پہ پہلے ہی کافی تنہا نہیں کر دیا جو آج مذید تڑکا لگا دیا ہے-
۰ ہمیں نہ ڈراؤ ہم سے اور کیا کرو گے؟
تمھاری کال کوٹھریوں کو بھگت چکے ہیں اب اپنی باری کا انتظار کرو!— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) March 6, 2022
Mosharraf Zaidi said, “PM Khan is deliberately trying to goad the US, EU & NATO into a public rhetorical exchange. In isolation, this is genius populism. Problem is the downside: the potential damage to bilateral relations will not be felt most acutely in Bani Gala, but on Main Street. Consider…”
PM Khan is deliberately trying to goad the US, EU & NATO into a public rhetorical exchange.
In isolation, this is genius populism.
Problem is the downside: the potential damage to bilateral relations will not be felt most acutely in Bani Gala, but on Main Street.
Consider…
— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) March 6, 2022
Cyril Almeida said, “Biden doesn’t even want to call IK, how much more distancing can IK want?”
The stupidity of IK’s anti-Americanism is that he can’t shut his mouth… the Pak state has got all that it wanted/could have dreamed of in Afg, except for the means to pay for our new fifth province… Biden doesn’t even want to call IK, how much more distancing can IK want?
— cyril almeida (@cyalm) March 6, 2022
Murtaza Solangi said, “What is Imran Khan trying to achieve by attacking the US and the EU and siding with Russia, besides hurting the economic interests of Pakistan?”
What is Imran Khan trying to achieve by attacking the US and the EU and siding with Russia, besides hurting the economic interests of Pakistan?
— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) March 6, 2022