SAPM Zulfi Bukhari Under Fire For Insensitive Conversation With Protesting Hazaras

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari is being criticised for his insensitive comments while talking to members of the Shia-Hazara community who have been protesting in Quetta against the killing of 11 coal miners in Mach for the past four days.

Bukhari reached Quetta to negotiate with the protestors who have stated that they won’t end the sit-in until Prime Minister Imran Khan visits the protest and assures them of an end to their persecution. The mourners have refused to bury their dead until their demands are heeded.

A clip of Zulfi Bukhari’s conversation with the protestors that has gone viral on social media shows the SAPM insensitively asking the protestors as to what benefit they will give to the PM if he comes to meet them.

Zulfi Bukhari's heartless dialogue with the families of the martyrs protesting with their loved ones dead bodies on the street.

“What benefit will you give to Imran Khan if he comes here”#HazaraLivesMatter

pic.twitter.com/DVhqrDMecN

— Anis Farooqui (@anis_farooqui) January 5, 2021

Twitterari have condemned Bukhari’s tone while talking to the grieving protestors and said that he has displayed insensitivity.

The statement by Zulfi Bukhari saying “how will anyone benefit from PM’s visit? If he comes here, then tomorrow everyone will demand he shows up” is a display of their apathy towards people’s suffering and their lack of understanding about the on-going sectarian violence.

— Tooba Syed ☭ 🍞🌹#AuratAzadSamajAzad (@Tooba_Sd) January 6, 2021

Zulfi Bukhari was sent to the Hazara community protesters in Quetta – he went there and has been filmed asking them that what benefit (faida) will they (the protesters) give the PM if he does visit them

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) January 6, 2021

Listening to Zulfi Bukhari bargain with members of grieving Hazara community with words like “faida” shows this govt is not only tone deaf it also lacks basic human emotions like empathy.

Govt is in shambles in every possible way. How unfortunate for us all. #hazaragenocide

— Benazir Jatoi (@BenazirJatoi) January 6, 2021

I just don't understand how some people could be so heartless

Ik had promised a new Pakistan What do I see next , Shia Genocide .He should visit Quetta It is important for him to show solidarity with Hazara
I condemn the heartless behaviour of Zulfi bukhari
#WhereIsState pic.twitter.com/gWUFI8kSeV

— Syeda Laila Jaffri 🇵🇰 (@Mohtermalaila) January 6, 2021

Earlier, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed had gone to Quetta to meet the protestors but they refused to call off the sit-in until all their demands are met. The sit-in entered its fourth day on Wednesday (today).