Vawda under fire for getting a kick out of boot
PML-N, PPP hit out at minister for ‘sinking public discourse to new depth’
PML-N, PPP hit out at minister for ‘sinking public discourse to new depth’. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Federal Water Resources Minister Faisal Vawda of the PTI has drawn scathing criticism for displaying a military boot on a TV talk show in an attempt to ridicule the opposition parties, particularly the PML-N.
During the show hosted by anchorperson Kashif Abbasi on ARY News, the minister pulled out a boot and placed it on the desk in front of him trying to make the point that the PML-N had “changed its political narrative” and now it sought “respect for boot instead of its slogan of respect for vote”.
Incensed by Vawda’s act, PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi and PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira left the show in protest.
Speaking about the incident, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said the PTI minister had actually mocked the army as an institution by resorting to such a despicable stunt.
“What point is he [Vawda] trying to make? That the army is involved in all this [the passage of the services chief tenure bills]?” the PML-N leader added.
Sanaullah again defended his party’s decision to support the amendments to extend the tenure of the army chief.
“We haven’t struck any deal. The original decision to extend the [army chief’s] tenure was made on August 19 and neither us, not the PPP or the JUI-F had any objections over it,” he reiterated.
Taking to Twitter, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said such actions “can’t be normalised, no matter what the point of the parody”.
“Disappointed and disgusted that public discourse has sunk to this level,” she wrote.
“It is everyone‘s right to critique another’s actions but this, this plumbs new depths. Cheap thrills just got a whole lot cheaper.”
Vawda mocks PML-N by brandishing 'military boot' live on television
During the show, Vawda mocked the PML-N leaders for “unconditionally” supporting the recently passed army amendments bills in the parliament.
“From now on, I will bring this [boot] in every talk show… this shows how democratic the PML-N really is … they now honour the boot by lying and licking [it],” said the firebrand politician, who is known for making provocative remarks against his opponents.
The PTI leader further claimed that the PML-N stood exposed before the masses as it “ditched” the public after its leaders including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and party president Shehbaz Sharif “escaped to London in the guise of medical treatment”.
“Maryam Nawaz and Nawaz Sharif should tell their supporters loud and clear that they have stooped so low that they would respect the boot to save themselves from accountability and corruption charges.”
Last year while addressing a National Assembly session in Islamabad, Vawda said the corrupt and money-launderers should be tied and dragged behind a vehicle before being hanged.
Prior to that, he had also suggested “hanging 5,000 people to transform the future of 220 million-strong nation”.
In November 2018 when a terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi was thwarted by the law enforcement agencies, Vawda showed up at the scene in a bulletproof vest and armed with a gun – drawing flak on social media for resorting to stunts instead of focusing on his job as a minister.
Federal Water Resources Minister Faisal Vawda of the PTI has drawn scathing criticism for displaying a military boot on a TV talk show in an attempt to ridicule the opposition parties, particularly the PML-N.
During the show hosted by anchorperson Kashif Abbasi on ARY News, the minister pulled out a boot and placed it on the desk in front of him trying to make the point that the PML-N had “changed its political narrative” and now it sought “respect for boot instead of its slogan of respect for vote”.
Incensed by Vawda’s act, PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi and PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira left the show in protest.
Speaking about the incident, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said the PTI minister had actually mocked the army as an institution by resorting to such a despicable stunt.
“What point is he [Vawda] trying to make? That the army is involved in all this [the passage of the services chief tenure bills]?” the PML-N leader added.
Sanaullah again defended his party’s decision to support the amendments to extend the tenure of the army chief.
“We haven’t struck any deal. The original decision to extend the [army chief’s] tenure was made on August 19 and neither us, not the PPP or the JUI-F had any objections over it,” he reiterated.
Taking to Twitter, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said such actions “can’t be normalised, no matter what the point of the parody”.
“Disappointed and disgusted that public discourse has sunk to this level,” she wrote.
“It is everyone‘s right to critique another’s actions but this, this plumbs new depths. Cheap thrills just got a whole lot cheaper.”
Vawda mocks PML-N by brandishing 'military boot' live on television
During the show, Vawda mocked the PML-N leaders for “unconditionally” supporting the recently passed army amendments bills in the parliament.
“From now on, I will bring this [boot] in every talk show… this shows how democratic the PML-N really is … they now honour the boot by lying and licking [it],” said the firebrand politician, who is known for making provocative remarks against his opponents.
The PTI leader further claimed that the PML-N stood exposed before the masses as it “ditched” the public after its leaders including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and party president Shehbaz Sharif “escaped to London in the guise of medical treatment”.
“Maryam Nawaz and Nawaz Sharif should tell their supporters loud and clear that they have stooped so low that they would respect the boot to save themselves from accountability and corruption charges.”
Last year while addressing a National Assembly session in Islamabad, Vawda said the corrupt and money-launderers should be tied and dragged behind a vehicle before being hanged.
Prior to that, he had also suggested “hanging 5,000 people to transform the future of 220 million-strong nation”.
In November 2018 when a terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi was thwarted by the law enforcement agencies, Vawda showed up at the scene in a bulletproof vest and armed with a gun – drawing flak on social media for resorting to stunts instead of focusing on his job as a minister.