On record: PML-N’s Khawaja Asif called Fazlur Rehman ‘Diesel’ during NA session
Khawaja Asif had called Maulana Fazlur Rehman ‘Diesel’ in the question hour during a NA session in 1996 which became part of the record.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) central leader Khawaja Asif had called Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman ‘Diesel’ in the question hour during a session of the National Assembly in 1996 which became part of the proceedings’ record.
During the era of military ruler Pervez Musharraf when Fazlur Rehman was part of the federal government, PML-N’s Khawaja Asif’s statement came on record of the NA proceedings in 2002 in which he called the JUI-F chief ‘Maulana Diesel’.
During the question hour, Asif had said that two committees were distributed between two members of the House including Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan and Fazlur Rehman. He censured the committees’ dismal performance in the past 2.5 years. Asif criticised that Nasrullah Khan and Fazlur Rehman had done nothing but to benefit their personal and political business ‘and we come to Maulana Diesel’.
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Then speaker of the National Assembly stopped Khawaja Asif from launching personal attacks instead of tabling a question. To this, Asif apologised to the speaker.
Asif then questioned the lawmakers including Khan and Fazl to elaborate the achievements of their foreign visits to several countries including the United States (US), South Africa, Sudan, Libya, Nigeria, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and others.
Rauf Klasra wrote on Twitter, “Once Kh Asif said something about Moulana FR at floor of the house in 1996. Politics has really strange bedfellows.”
Once Kh Asif said something about Moulana FR at floor of the house in 1996.
Politics has really strange bedfellows.. pic.twitter.com/rc0Fb5eaFk— Rauf Klasra (@KlasraRauf) January 31, 2017
PML’s criticism against stigmatisation of rivals
After Prime Minister Imran Khan’s criticism in his recent addresses against the political rivals, PML-N is amongst opposition parties censuring the top government personalities for using abusive language against the opponents.
PM Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been caught on multiple occasions while mimicking the political rivals including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
The terms he usually used to target the political rivals included Showbaaz Sharif for Shehbaz Sharif, thieves for Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, Diesel for Maulana Fazlur Rehman besides criticising the Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for the slip of tongue in Urdu speeches.
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Coming to the facts, the culture of mimicking and stigmatising the political figures had been introduced in national politics by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Way back in 1970s, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto late had stigmatised his opponents in rallies, calling Mumtaz Daultana the head of PML mouse, Asghar Khan as Aalu [potato], Khan Qayyum Khan as Double-barrel Khan and Maulana Kausar Niazi as Mulla Whiskey until he joined his political party.
On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leaders called Benazir Bhutto late ‘Peeli Taxi’ while Shehbaz Sharif threatened Asif Ali Zardari to be dragged on the road by him.
However, the culture of mimicry and stigmatising the political rivals could not be justified in any words.
