Storm of criticism in social media over PM’s statement calling out Bilawal ‘Sahiba’

LAHORE (92 News) – Following to the statement of Prime Minister Imran Khan at South Waziristan – in which he called Bilwal Bhutto ‘Sahiba’ – the social media users and politicians started to crtiticize the prime minister. It is worth mention here that Irman Khan said in his statement, “I have come in politics after a lot of struggle, not like Bilawal Bhutto ‘Sahiba’,” According to the reports, the storm of criticism has been surfaced soon after the video clip of Imran Khan’s speech at public gathering viral on the social media. The video clip of him saying this spread quickly across social media and people criticised him for not maintaining grace on the twitter. One micro blogging user named as Jamshed said, “A Misogynist and so utterly condemnable statement by pm against @BBhuttoZardari calling him sahiba . PM's in dire need of training into gender and conflict sensitive communication which I can offer him to save the image of country from his tongue.

Misogynist and so utterly condemnable statement by pm against @BBhuttoZardari calling him sahiba . PM's in dire need of training into gender and conflict sensitive communication which I can offer him to save the image of country from his tongue👅! #PrimeMinisterImranKhan

— Jamshed Iqbal (@Jamshed099) April 24, 2019

Twitter user Ranwal Bhutto tweeted, “Sexist and misogynist at 66. #PrimeMinisterImranKhan lacks grace and class.”

Sexist and misogynist at 66. #PrimeMinisterImranKhan lacks grace and class.

— Ranwal Bhutto (@RanwalBhutto) April 24, 2019

Whereas journalist Gul Bukhari wrote: “Very, very small. Calling Bilawal Bhutto Sahiba (madam) doesn’t belittle him at all. It just demonstrates Imran Khan’s lowness, indecency, and sexism. An insult to the office of the PM.”

Very, very small. Calling Bilawal Bhutto Sahiba (madam) doesn’t belittle him at all. It just demonstrates Imran Khan’s lowness, indecency, and sexism. An insult to the office of the PM.

#PrimeMinisterImranKhan pic.twitter.com/FnrYQZuuz4 — Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) April 24, 2019

While Twitter user Mbano had a asked from the women working with the prime minister: “Women legislators in PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf], how are you okay calling Imran Khan your leader when he thinks being a woman is an insult? #PrimeMinisterImranKhan”

Women legislators in PTI, how are you okay calling Imran Khan your leader when he thinks being a woman is an insult? #PrimeMinisterImranKhan

— Banorama (@Mbano) April 24, 2019

On the same note, sareena_nina demanded an apology from the leader: “He is not just a party leader, he is #PrimeMinisterImranKhan , someone women in this country voted for. If it is a genuine slip of the tongue, then he owes the women of his country an apology.”

He is not just a party leader, he is #PrimeMinisterImranKhan , someone women in this country voted for. If it is a genuine slip of the tongue, then he owes the women of his country an apology.

— Sareena Naeem Shams (@sareena_nina) April 24, 2019

Another slip of the tongue…

On the other hand,  there were those who regarded the remark as “slip of the tongue” and defended Imran Khan. Twitter user engrMZH posted: “Intentional or slip of tongue. Whatever... It made my day.”

Intentional or slip of tongue ... Whatever ... It made my day ... 😂🤣@BBhuttoZardari  #SouthWaziristan #BiloRani #PrimeMinisterImranKhan pic.twitter.com/IssxNsWs5I

— Zeeshan (@engrMZH) April 24, 2019

Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari responded from his twitter personal account: “What was that about small men in big offices? #PMSelect,” he tweeted after the viral video.

What was that about small men in big offices? #PMSelect

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) April 24, 2019