Opposition parties have directed a volley of criticism towards Shahbaz Gill, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Political Communication, after a short video clip of the SAPM started doing the rounds on social media platforms recently.
In the 36 second long snippet, Gill is seen to be responding to a question about the potential benefits of the arrival of billions in Chinese investment in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
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https://twitter.com/IamFahadShahbaz/status/1269712779264565250
Is Chinese investment beneficial for Pakistan? Being a business professor, I would say no, not at all. Chinese culture is very different. I love China too. I’m not saying I’m against China but [they possess a] very different culture.
Gill further adds:
The way you see things very differently. The way you see society is very different. Pakistanis do not know anything about Chinese culture at all. They know more about the US or any other European country than China. So, in any way, they are not ready to engage in that business or in that trade.
Shahbaz Gill, however, has clarified that the snippet has been deliberately extracted from a speech delivered in December 2017 to create a wrong impression.
2018 Dec پاکستان کے لئیے ایک کانفرنس کروائی۔جس میں اسد عمر صاحب معید پیرزادہ نجمہ پیرزادہ اورلفٹیننٹ جنرل جعفر اعوان صاحب کو مدعو کیا انکی موجودگی میں اپنی تقریر سے امریکیوں کہ سامنے پاکستان کا مقدمہ لڑا۔کچھ لوگ اس تقریر کہ چند سیکنڈ کہ حصے کو استعمال کر کہ غلط میسج دے رہے ہیں pic.twitter.com/s8EsdbgVrZ
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) June 6, 2020
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Despite Gill’s clarification, Chairperson Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mushahid Hussain Syed, shared the video and termed its content as shocking and unacceptable.
Shocking and unacceptable statement from an official spokesman of the Government of Pakistan. Music to ears of our enemies who’d love to hear such language about our best friend!
Shocking & unacceptable statement from an official spokesman of Govt of Pakistan, music to ears of our enemies who’d love to hear such language about our best friend! When Ahsan Iqbal @betterpakistan was Planning Minister, there was political ownership of CPEC, no longer it seems https://t.co/G1ld50fs9P
— Mushahid Hussain Sayed (@Mushahid) June 7, 2020
Going a step ahead, Secretary General Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Ahsan Iqbal, has demanded Shahbaz Gill’s resignation.
How can CPEC be successful when anti-Chinese elements are present within the ranks of government? Shahbaz Gill should resign immediately after his remarks against China.
شہباز گل کے پاکستان کے دوست ملک چین کے خلاف بیان منظر عام آنے کے بعد ان سے فورا استعفی لیا جائے- حکومت کی آستینوں میں چین دشمن لوگ بیٹھے ہیں تو سی پیک کیسے کامیاب ہو سکتا ہے؟ pic.twitter.com/9VdsvvlnjD
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) June 7, 2020
It is responsibility of Imran Khan to take action & resign those black sheeps. Otherwise America’s plans will be facilitated.
Not a fan of Imran but this hits the nail on its head. BTW not fan of any political parties.
Shahbaz gill ne jo kaha hai theek kha hai. hum china ko kuch ziyada hi lift kra rahy hain. Pakistan to wasy hi China ki debt pay karta rahy ga aur wo free ma CPEC se mazay lay ga.
business professor hai koi joker nahi.
He spoke of Indian language against CPEC.Should be asked
Very disapoointing. Shabaz Gill is highly educated and qualified but this mistake cant be over looked. IK shud take stern action. After all china iand Turkey we only had two deoendable friends. Culture.. We had nothing to do with any donors or friends culture so this cant be an excuse. These things RAW and CIA r spreading.. So publicly Gill shud explain his position. Whether it is 2017 or 2020. People r very much involved with chinas always supporting behaviour with us