'Thief, thief': Ahsan Iqbal faces PTI supporters' wrath in viral video

Federal minister for planning calls family 'ignorant', comparing them to supporters of Hitler

A video of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters chanting slogans against Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal at a McDonald's branch went viral over social media on Friday, pointing at the growing intolerance in the country.

According to details, the incident took place at Bhera Interchange near Sargodha during which some PTI supporters started shouting "thief, thief" to the face of the minister.

Federal Minister of Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal was swarmed with chants of 'thief' as he stood in a fast food restaurant waiting to place his order.#etribune #news #ahsaniqbal pic.twitter.com/ujykBExbgr

— The Express Tribune (@etribune) July 8, 2022

The minister tried to talk to the PTI supporters but they kept shouting the slogan while leaving the premises. Taking to Twitter, Ahsan Iqbal said that the "ignorant" family started shouting slogans instead of a dialogue.

Read more: Ahsan accuses Imran of spreading anarchy in country

آج بھیرہ میکڈونلڈ میں ایک یوتھین فیملی سے مڈبھیڑ ہوئی جو بظاہر خود کو ایلیٹ سمجھتی ہے مگر مکالمہ کی بجائے جاہلوں کی طرح نعرہ بازی شروع کر دی۔جب یہ نعرہ بازی سے باز نہ آئی تو لوگوں نے بھی نعرے لگا دئیے “گوگی پیرنی کا حساب دو”
جیسا جاہل اور پاگل خود ویسے ہی پیروکار پیدا کر رہا ہے۔

— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) July 8, 2022

"When they (PTI supporters) did not stop chanting slogans, people [there] also start shouting 'give us account of Gogi and Peerni'," he claimed while referring to the former prime minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi and her close friend Farah Khan.

شکریہ عامر عباسی!
خود کو پڑھا لکھا سمجھنے والے یہ افراد اصل میں جاہل ترین اور فاشسٹ ہیں جیسے کہ ہٹلر کے پیروکار تھے۔ ہم ان جاہلوں سے مرعوب ہونے والے ہیں نہ دبنے والے۔ یہ اپنے ذہنی دیوالیہ پن کا چلتا پھرتا اشتہار ہیں۔عمران ممنوعہ فنڈنگ والوں کے کہنے پہ معاشرہ polarise کر رہا ہے۔ https://t.co/P3ZAXe1Qjk

— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) July 8, 2022

"Just as ignorant and lunatic he is, he is also producing followers like himself," Ahsan said in reference to Imran Khan.

In another Tweet, the federal minister called the protesters "ignorant and fascist", comparing them with the followers of Hitler. "We are not going to be intimidated by these ignorant people. This is an advert for his mental bankruptcy. Imran is polarising the society at the behest of illicit funders."

Also read: Twitter boils with anger after Ahsan Iqbal asks Pakistanis to reduce tea consumption

Responding to Ahsan Iqbal, former information minister Fawad Chaudhry said that only the federal minister was being disrespected in the video, suggesting him to "wear a veil in public" to avoid such incidents and stop lying.

سر ویڈیو میں تو صرف آپ کی بے عزتی نظر آئ ہے، آپ جھوٹ بولنا بند کریں اور لوگوں میں برقع پہن کر جایا کریں https://t.co/aEuXDcwdCh

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) July 8, 2022