Presenters and analysts target Imran Khan after agreement with TLP

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 3 November 2018

The Pakistani government reached an agreement with TLP to end protests linked to the Aasia Bibi case. Prominent journalists and analysts have criticized this move, questioning its implications for governance and security in the country.

Summary

ISLAMABAD - As the government and the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) reached an agreement on Friday night to end protests over the Supreme Court verdict in Aasia Bibi case, leading journalists turned their guns at the federal government and Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Dawn’s Cyril Almeida, who was impressed by the prime minister’s speech earlier, tweeted: “Notification is rejected, tweet is withdrawn...” His notification is calling for PMIK.

Mohammad Malick of 92 News termed the agreement another surrender. “Another govt kneels b4 Khadim http://Rizvi. Now there will be another time also with even greater demands. So much for Quaid's Pakistan. shame!”

Zarar Khurro of DawnNews with a tongue-in-cheek tweet targeted Imran Khan’s speech: “Riasat say na takrana nahin tau...Riasat jhuk jaye gi.”

Absar Alam, former head of electronic media regulator PEMRA, who is now with the PMLN, named former generals and held them responsible for creating a force which they cannot control now. “Sectarian chickens hatched, fed, protected by Gen. Pasha, Gen. Zaheer, Gen. Rizwan in their backyard with the single aim to blackmail Pakistan’s legitimate civilian govts, have come back to roost. And they now are heading ‘Think Tanks’. What an insult to academic intellect. Tragic!”

Analyst Imtiaz Alam rejected the rumors that Aasia Bibi has been shifted outside Pakistan. “Asiya BB is still in jail. All rumors about her exit from the country are false. Her release orders were to be issued by the trial court and that have not been issued as yet. And she is being placed on ECL and won’t be able to leave the country.”

However, Ansar Abbasi backed the agreement. In an Urdu tweet, he said some anchors seem to be very angry over the agreement, asking why they are so much interested in the game of violence and killing. He reminded them about the bloody fallout of the operation against the Lal Masjid in 2007.

Dunya News analyst Khawar Ghumman also backed Abbasi. “Many of such anchors urged Gen Musharraf to go hard against Lal Masjid in 2007. Rest is history he was called butcher of innocent students of Lal Masgid by the same lot. But yes, due cases mist (sic) be filed against TLYP leadership for inciting violence and destroying public property.”

Veteran journalist M. Ziauddin said: “The surrender document seems to have been prepared on the lines advised by ISPR Chief in his interview to state TV Channel PTV. Just go back and replay the video in question.”

Columnist Gul Bukhari tauntingly tweeted in Urdu: “After all the speech was good.” Though she said the government has caved in to the demands of the religious party, in an earlier tweet, she maintained: “But in actuality, the molvis have gained absolutely nothing. Asia Bibi is not in Pakistan - the review period & ECL are face savers.”

She seemed to have deleted her tweet in which she quoted sources to claim that Aasia Bibi was shifted outside Pakistan the day the Supreme Court ordered her release. Bukhari even thanked the prime minister.