New Delhi: A Hindu boy in Pakistan was forced to abuse his gods and chant Allahu Akbar by a mob. But it’s Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi who is in real trouble.
Reacting to the horrific hate attack, Alvi made two glaring boo-boos, if you go by the Pakistani social media reaction. He told people not to malign Pakistan and worse, he described the country as Riasat-e-Madina, the land of the pure.
Caught on the wrong foot
Alvi’s official Twitter handle warned against such instances Tuesday evening, but did not condemn the attack itself. Instead, he said that these were ugly isolated incidents giving Pakistan a bad name.
“Our society should remain alert. Such isolated ugly incidents are used to give a bad name to the country. I condemn it and I assure all citizens that we in Riasat-e-Madina cannot and will not allow this to happen”, tweeted the President’s official handle.
Our society should remain alert. Such isolated ugly incidents are used to give a bad name to the country. I condemn it and I assure all citizens that we in Riasat-e-Madina cannot and will not allow this to happen.
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) July 27, 2021
Videos of the incident went viral last week where a man in Sindh’s Tharparkar region abused and slapped a young boy, forcing him to abuse Hindu gods and goddesses and yell ‘Allahu Akbar’. In the video, the boy can be seen begging the man to let go of.
The accused was arrested Tuesday. But the real damage began after the President’s Twitter post.
Twitteratis in Pakistan called out Alvi, a close aide of Imran Khan and one of the founding members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
“Isolated incident?! WTAF is wrong with you?!”, said one handle.
Isolated incident?! WTAF is wrong with you?!
— Eurus (@Hexatiouz) July 27, 2021
In the same vein, many others said this was the worst possible statement a leader could have made, and that it would have been better had the President refrained.
this is the worst possible statement you could have given.
— bis (@itsokaybis) July 27, 2021
I'm extremely sorry but you should not have used the word "isolated incidents"
That's actually very disappointing coming from a leader. These aren't isolated incidents.
— Sehr Rushmeen (@rushmeentweets) July 27, 2021
Many handles, while condemning Alvi, disqualified his abilities as a leader and said he was a dentist.
Before getting into the world of politics, Alvi was a dentist, a profession he took after his father Dr Elahi Alvi, who was a dentist to Jawaharlal Nehru before his migration to Pakistan.
Isolated events? Shame on you Mr. Dentist.
— Zay (@itsnotokhere) July 27, 2021
He is a dentist, not a leader, little correction please
— Baji (@benishaan195) July 27, 2021
Also read: Pakistan minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed can ride horses, row boats. But he’s just a meme for many
‘Riasat-e-Hypocracy’
The Pakistani Twitterati also had a lot to say about Riasat-e-Madina, an Islamic version of a welfare State.
While some said there was no need to resort to the phrase Riaasat-e-Madina to compare Pakistan, many questioned what welfare Alvi was speaking about, and highlighted recurring violence against women and minority communities.
So problematic! Firstly it’s Pakistan not Riasat-e-Madina. Secondly why don’t you ask us women if we feel safe in a country run by rape apologists and enablers, It was not just ONE isolated incident. This shows your convenient ignorance, entitlement and hypocrisy. https://t.co/fcszXrxLQZ
— Maheen Ghani (@maheenghani_) July 27, 2021
One account got innovative with the Riasat-e-Madina wordplay and instead termed the President’s statement as part of “Riasat-e-Hypocracy”.
Riasat-e-Madina?? Never in a million years. More like Riasat-e-Hypocracy.
— Moin Abbasi (@mjabbasi) July 27, 2021
Twitteratis further asked how “tongues did not cut themselves off taking the name of “Riasat e Madina” in this hellish place” and that the government should be sentenced to death for blasphemy — for equating itself to a welfare State.
How do your tongues not cut themselves off taking the name of "Riasat e Madina" in this hellish place https://t.co/ZidZK85Pgs
— faizan ?? (@Broiler_Choocha) July 27, 2021
Govt should be sentenced to death for blasphemy for equating themselves to Riasat-e-Madina https://t.co/Hi76FageLH
— ➖ (@hoodwinkeddd) July 27, 2021