Shehbaz Sharif. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Speaking during an election event in the port city, the former Punjab chief minister seemingly appeared to be mocking locals by correlating their Urdu accent with the habit of eating pan.
"I will turn the pan-eating Karanchi into Lahore," he was reported as saying by the media.
The remarks earned Sharif a swift rebuke from prominent politicians, social media activists and notables from the city of lights.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Ismail said that the PML-N leader had hurt the sentiments of the residents of Karachi with the wrong choice of words.
"Pan is part of the cultural heritage of our people," Ismail told Shehbaz Sharif in a video message posted on social media.
Ali Zaidi of PTI also schooled Sharif, and went all the way to a local pan shop to demonstrate his disapproval of the former chief minister.
"Pan is the identity of the people of Karachi," he was quoted as saying by a private television channel.
Other leaders, like Aitzaz Ahsan of Pakistan Peoples Party and Farooq Sattar of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, as well as social media activists, also condemned the PML-N leader for his insensitivity.
Here is what a few social media users had to say about the comments by Sharif.
Mazdoor Ka Hay Haari Ka
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) June 26, 2018
Sindh Nahi Darbaari Ka
Vote Mangnay Niklay Hein
Rasta Tak Pata Nahi Liyari Ka
#کراچی pic.twitter.com/K3jeIEDNLd
— Faisal Subzwari (@faisalsubzwari) June 26, 2018
The immense reaction of #Karanchi Paan khaanay Waalay... pic.twitter.com/3onZHumpvt
— N. (@Najeeb_Official) June 26, 2018
Khota khanay se Paan khana behtar h#ShahbazSharif #Karanchi #Paan #Karachi #Khota
— F Tahir (@furqan_kai) June 26, 2018
I was actually gonna praise @CMShehbaz for being the 1st national leader in so many years to actually start his campaign from #Karachi, for both being a brilliant political strategy and trying to show federalism. Instead, I woke up to #Karanchi and #Paan
— لال بجھکڑ (@afzaal_k) June 26, 2018
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