Foreign Minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s statement to defend his political rival and former prime minister Imran Khan’s visit to Russia has been praised by the nationals and senior journalists.
Yesterday, FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while addressing a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, said, “I would absolutely defend the former PM of Pakistan [Imran Khan]. Former PM [Imran Khan] conducted that trip as part of his foreign policy without knowing that the current conflict would start.”
I would absolutely defend the former PM of Pakistan. Former PM conducted that trip as part of his foreign policy without knowing that the current conflict would start.@BBhuttoZardari#PakFMAtUN
9/16 pic.twitter.com/SjMep8boEO— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) May 19, 2022
FM Bilawal said that there was no way for the former prime minister Imran Khan to know that Russia would invade Ukraine on the day he landed in Moscow.
He said, “And I believe it is very unfair to punish Pakistan for such an innocent action.” He added that Pakistan is absolutely clear that it has to stand by the UN principles, including that of non-use of force, on this issue.
The foreign minister clarified that Pakistan is not part of any conflict and does not wish to be part of any conflict but to continue emphasising the importance of peace.
Senior journalist and anchorperson Kamran Khan praised FM’s statement, saying, “Excellent gesture, very patriotic of @BBhuttoZardari going an extra mile to defend Imran Khan’s extremely controversial timing to visit Moscow and meet Putin on the day when Russian troops invaded Ukraine, Imran Khan please reciprocate the young leader.”
Excellent gesture, very patriotic of @BBhuttoZardari going an extra mile to defend Imran Khan’s extremely controversial timing to visit Moscow and meet Putin on the day when Russian troops invaded Ukraine, Imran Khan please reciprocate the young leader pic.twitter.com/6OoIRHsMSv
— Kamran Khan (@AajKamranKhan) May 19, 2022
Ajmal Jami wrote on Twitter, “Like him or not but that’s how one should represent Pakistan. Zabardast Sir!”
Like him or not but that’s how one should represent Pakistan. Zabardast Sir! https://t.co/9wlP7bTq9z
— Ajmal Jami (@ajmaljami) May 19, 2022
“I think even Imran Khan’s spokesperson couldn’t defend his Russia trip as effectively as Bilawal has done here,” said Kamran Yousaf.
I think even Imran Khan’s spokesperson couldn’t defend his Russia trip as effectively as Bilawal has done here pic.twitter.com/sG1Kl9FkbO
— Kamran Yousaf (@Kamran_Yousaf) May 19, 2022
Not only by the journalists but Bilawal’s statement is also being widely praised by the nationals and his name becomes a top Twitter trend.
It may be noted here that former PM Imran Khan bore diplomatic pressure by the United States (US) and the European nations for adopting an independent policy and rejecting to unconditionally support their stance on the Ukraine-Russia conflict which allegedly led to his ouster from the government through an alleged conspiracy.