PM’s Remarks Terming Hazaras ‘Blackmailers’ Generate Outrage, PPP Demands Apology

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s insensitive remarks about the Hazara protestors, asking them to stop ‘blackmailing’ him, have generated outrage on social media.

“We have accepted all of their demands,” he said, adding that the demand that the bodies will be buried when the PM visits them is tantamount to blackmail. “You don’t blackmail the prime minister of any country like this,” Khan said earlier today.

PPP leaders Nayyur Bukhari and and Maula Baksh Chandio have also condemned Imran Khan’s statement, demanding an apology for his speech.

Nayyur Bukhari called the statement “extremely inappropriate.” Furthermore, he added, “Instead of helping heal their wounds, Imran Khan is rubbing salt on them.”

Opposition leaders including PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz have called Prime Minister’s inaction regarding the Hazara massacre “the height of insensitivity.”

“This is the height of insensitivity, you are responsible for 220mn people. If you refer to the cries of the people as blackmail, then you should be ashamed of yourself.”

Taking to Twitter citizens expressed their disappointment at the PM’s statement. Some have even termed his statement a case of hypocrisy drawing out comparisons between his dharnas as “right to protest” and the grieving hazaras as “blackmailers”.

Blackmail ho to aisa:#Hazarakillings https://t.co/t00fHN83RK pic.twitter.com/5lvaQsKAUk

— Fahad Desmukh (@desmukh) January 8, 2021

UNBELEIVABLE: in the middle of his little IT and special zones speech at the launch of whatever he's launching, the PM says he will NOT go to Quetta till they bury their dead. Says he cant 'understand this demand'. Says if they bury today, he'll go today.

— Zebunnisa Burki (@zburki) January 8, 2021

Do you want to know why Imran Khan thinks the Hazara protestors are blackmailers?

Because he never believed in any of the causes he protested for. Imran Khan always used his protests as a way to blackmail the Government, so naturally he thinks everybody else does the same.

— Shehzad Ghias Shaikh (@Shehzad89) January 8, 2021

When APS happened, our PM got married. When thousands died, our PM referred to the Taliban as 'brothers'. Now when the Hazara have been slaughtered, our PM refuses to go.

— MehrHusayn (@mfhusayn) January 8, 2021

According to the Prime Minister of Pakistan the man on the left is a “martyr (shaheed)” and the people on the right are “blackmailers”! pic.twitter.com/RQjjEBgEPG

— Ali Raza (@AliRazarizvi34) January 8, 2021

Blackmail? With the dead bodies of THEIR loved ones? This is too much.

Disgusting.

No condemnation of this speech is enough.

— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) January 8, 2021

IK feels blackmailed by a grieving community that is actively facing a genocide but was okay to meet with the Taliban for talks.

— Maham Nasir (@lightermachis) January 8, 2021

so you're telling me sitting 126 days on a container in the capital forcing a resignation wasn't blackmailing? and people who are peacefully waiting for him are blackmailers?

— moe (@canyonmoe) January 8, 2021

Right to protest. Blackmail pic.twitter.com/6Uv8PQ47wE

— Meph⚓ (@UnitedsFreak) January 8, 2021

Still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Imran Khan used the word “blackmail”. Blackmail for the people simply asking for their rights. Blackmail for the people out in the freezing cold with the bodies of their loved ones. Sick.

— Noor (@NoorHSumra) January 8, 2021