Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Wednesday said that he had not entered politics like “Bilawal Bhutto Sahiba”, drawing flak from hundreds of social media users, who termed the statement “disgustingly sexist”.
Addressing a public gathering in the Wanna town of South Waziristan, the premier said that whoever rises to power after a long struggle is empowered by Allah. “And such a person fears no one.”
“I didn’t enter politics like Bilawal Bhutto Sahiba, who inherited his mother’s party. I have reached here after a lot of hard work,” he said.
WATCH VIDEO:
PM Imran’s statement took over the internet by storm and here’s what people have to say about it.
Seems like PM slipped his tongue again and called ‘Bilawal Bhutto Sahiba’. How much more can he stoop low? Disgusting and shameful. Smol man in big Office
Very, very small. Calling Bilawal Bhutto Sahiba (madam) doesn’t belittle him at all. It just demonstrates Imran Khan’s lowness, indecency, and sexism. An insult to the office of the PM.
Ukrainian actor and comedian Volodymyr Zelensky, with no political experience, has secured a resounding victory in the country’s presidential polls.
Volodymyr Zelensky
He, however, isn’t the first of his kind. Here are five stars-turned-politicians who you must be familiar with.
Imran Khan
Former cricket champion Imran Khan, idolised by millions of Pakistanis for having led the national cricket team to its only World Cup victory in 1992, became prime minister in 2018 after a long political struggle.
Donald Trump
In January 2017 US real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump, whose surprise election shocked the world, entered the White House without any political, diplomatic or military experience. The 45th president of the United States hosted the TV show The Apprentice between 2004 and 2015. He also made several cameos in some of Hollywood’s hit films such as Sex and the City.
Urmila Matondkar
Bollywood actor Urmila Matondkar surprised fans when she announced earlier this year that she has joined the Indian National Congress party and will be contesting elections from Mumbai’s North constituency. As per reports, her campaign is being received positively and she presents a tough challenge to BJP.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger, more popularly known as The Terminator, made the leap from cinema to politics in 2003. The bodybuilder and action hero was Republican governor of California, the richest and most populous US state, from 2003 to 2011.
George Weah
George Weah emerged from Liberia’s slums to become a superstar footballer in the 1990s and was elected president of the West African nation in December 2017. The only African player to have won the Ballon d’Or, he entered politics at the end of the country’s 1989-2003 civil war, winning his first political job as a senator in 2014.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday admitted that Iran has suffered from terrorism by “groups operating from within Pakistan” and expressed his resolve to not allow militants to use Pakistani soil anymore.
“I know that Iran has suffered from terrorism which is from groups operated from within Pakistan,” the premier said while addressing a press conference along with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran.
WATCH VIDEO:
"I know Iran has suffered from terrorism which… Uh which ahppp… From groups operating from within Pakistan" – PM @ImranKhanPTI during the joint presser today with Iranian president @HassanRouhani in Tehran.
While he asserted that Islamabad would no longer allow any militant groups to use its soil against anyone, PM Imran’s statement regarding terrorism in Iran is receiving mixed reactions on Twitter:
PM @ImranKhanPTI talks about terrorism in Pakistan using Iran's soil specifically mentioning #Ormarra incident; also admits Iran suffering from terrorist activities in which Pakistan's soil is used #PAKIRAN#IKHRJointPresser
Peace is breaking out on Iran’s eastern front as PM Imran landed in Tehran on Sunday to strengthen trust between the two neighbouring countries on the invitation of President Rouhani.
According to reports, border security issues are on top of the premier’s agenda in Tehran as Pak-Iran relations have lately had a bad patch due to security issues along the border.
With reports claiming Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar is about to be fired, Prime Minister Imran Khan has also warned his new “Wasim Akram” against poor performance.
CM’s spokesperson Dr Shahbaz Gill, however, has denied all media reports regarding Buzdar’s removal.
To be honest, we also don’t think anyone can ever sack an “under-training” and such an innocent chief minister:
Soon after Finance Minister Asad Umar “resigned” from Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet, the premier on Thursday fired several ministers for showing unsatisfactory performance in their respective domains.
Among the victims of Thursday’s bloodbath were Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Interior Minister Shehryar Afridi, Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Health Minister Amir Mehmood Kiyani.
While the sacked cabinet members were handed new ministries in what is being termed as a major reshuffle, here is what you need to know about the new portfolios of the same old ministers.
Fawad Chaudhry’s Science and Technology Ministry
As the name suggests, the ministry is concerned with science and technology. It is responsible for the country’s science policy, planning, coordination and efforts to initiate technological programmes that can also be aimed at economic development.
Shehryar Afridi’s States and Frontier Regions Ministry
The main responsibility of the ministry is to deal with the issues of tribal areas of Pakistan, the frontier regions and previously Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) that is now a part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s Aviation Ministry
Concerned with matters of aviation, the ministry works in coordination with different organisations, including the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Airport Security Force (ASF), Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and even Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
New Interior Minister:
The government has also announced a federal interior minister for the first time, with the portfolio — earlier held by the PM himself — going to Brig (r) Ijaz Ahmed Shah, who was appointed the federal minister for parliamentary affairs just last month.
Yes, a PM can keep ministries to himself. An example is former premier Nawaz Sharif, who kept with him the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
While Shah is known to have experience of tackling threats posed by militant organisations, his appointment has stirred a political controversy as he remained a trusted aide of former military ruler Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf.
Raining Special Assistants:
Meanwhile, a trio of Special Assistants to the Prime Minister (SAPM) has also been appointed in an apparent attempt to bridge the gap that has surfaced after sacking of federal ministers.
Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has been made the SAPM on Information and Broadcasting Division, Dr Zafarullah Mirza has been assigned the portfolio of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, while Nadeem Babar will serve as the SAPM on Petroleum Division.
The special assistants won’t officially be ministers, but being the most superior in their respective domains, they will be entitled to a minister’s power.
Finance Minister Asad Umar on Thursday announced that he has obtained Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s consent “to not take any cabinet position” after being offered the Energy Ministry instead.
“As part of a cabinet reshuffle, prime minister desired that
I take the energy minister portfolio instead of finance. However, I have
obtained his consent to not take any cabinet position,” he tweeted.
With Umar’s statement confirming earlier media reports of a possible reshuffle in PM Imran’s cabinet, hundreds of netizens took to Twitter to react to “another U-turn of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government”.
Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi has said
that Prime Minister Imran Khan had a detailed conversation with the late former
Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani over the situation following the
suicide attack on Hazara community.
“PM [Imran Khan] had a detailed discussion with Rafsanjani Sahib,”
he said while addressing a press conference after meeting the victim families
of April 12’s Quetta bombing.
With the statement from the interior minister coming two
years after Rafsanjani passed away, Twitterati sprung to action to call out Afridi’s
blunder.
It's not a slip of the tongue, unfortunately these jokers don't have an idea about the position they are holding at the moment. No capacity nor capability to handle his ministry! #SHAMEFUL
Yes, then he had a detailed discussion with Winston Churchill saheb and J F. Kennedy saheb. Tomorrow he will be taking to Chairman Mao saheb and Tipu Sultan saheb.
Just a slip of tongue or lack of information, not good. But yr taunt is even worse, to be on the look out for finding fault on others seems political. He probably Rouhani. But have U never made a mistake or slip of tongue? be more visionary and don't waste time on trivialities.
PM Imran is set to pay an official two-day visit to Iran on April 21 on the invitation of President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hassan Rouhani.
According to the Foreign Office, the premier will meet Iranian Supreme Leader Seyed Ali Khamenei, besides holding detailed consultations with President Rouhani.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has been spotted with “Pakistan’s nuclear launch codes”, a foreign journalist claimed Tuesday.
Earlier this week, PM Imran was interviewed by BBC’s John Simpson. The interview that came following heightened tensions with India, discussed future ties of the two neighbouring countries.
With the premier walking away after the interview, he was followed by an officer carrying a briefcase that Simpson revealed held “nuclear codes”.
“Following him [Imran Khan], I was told, the officer carrying the briefcase that holds Pakistan’s nuclear codes,” he said.
WATCH VIDEO:
"Officer carrying briefcase that holds Pakistan's nuclear codes."
