A day after the gruesome killing of renowned journalist Arshad Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz's "vengeful" tweet has left many bewildered and angry on social media.
Journalists, civil society and other people on social media slammed Maryam's tweet and called her out for seizing upon the deceased journalist's death as an opportunity to settle political scores.
They said salivating over the sight of Arshad Sharif's coffin for political vendetta did not behove a politician and betrayed her "deep-seated" vengeance, making her unfit for holding public office.
Read more: Journalist Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya
The police were reported by Kenyan media as claiming that Arshad had been shot in the head and killed by the authorities on Sunday night along the Nairobi-Magadi highway in a case of “mistaken identity”.
Further details are expected to emerge as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority investigates the case.
However, a retweet by Maryam Nawaz left many on social media with anger, calling it in bad taste.
"I don’t feel good RTing this but this is a lesson for mankind that we must all imbibe," the PML-N leader wrote along with a tweet and a photo of Arshad Sharif's coffin.
I don’t feel good RTing this but this is a lesson for the mankind that we must all imbibe. https://t.co/XIfZA3N5Hr
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 25, 2022
The original tweet, retweeted by Maryam, claimed that the anchorperson used to malign PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif for sending her mother’s coffin in a parcel. "He used to make fun of other people's death and now his time had come," she added.
The tweet ignited a fierce response from netizens who condemned the statement and refuted the claim.
Reacting to Maryam Nawaz’s tweet, senior journalist Hamid Mir posted a screenshot of the deceased journalist’s tweet in which, contrary to Maryam’s claims, he was wishing health and recovery for her mother.
“This is the tweet #ArshadSharif made for late #KalsoomNawaz Sahiba,” the caption read.
This is the tweet #ArshadSharif made for late #KalsoomNawaz Sahiba https://t.co/2LrN8Bog2n pic.twitter.com/a0kwvfRcpm
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) October 25, 2022
“@MaryamNSharif have a heart. Show some character and delete this ridiculous tweet. A Pakistani journalist is brutally killed and this is neither the way [nor] time to settle scores,” journalist Azhar Abbas wrote.
@MaryamNSharif have a heart. Show some character and delete this ridiculous tweet. A Pakistani journalist is brutally killed and this is neither the way or time to settle scores. pic.twitter.com/GObHcY2vLr
— Azhar Abbas (@AzharAbbas3) October 25, 2022
Rights activist Ammar Ali Jan wrote that mocking someone's family after a violent death was “shameful”. “By displaying such deep-seated feelings of resentment and vendetta against opponents, Maryam Nawaz continues to prove herself unfit for public office,” he added.
Mocking someone's family after a violent death is shameful. By displaying such deep-seated feelings of resentment and vendetta against opponents, Maryam Nawaz continues to prove herself unfit for public office.
— Ammar Ali Jan (@ammaralijan) October 25, 2022
Author Ayesha Siddiqa also criticised the PML-N leader’s tweet and wrote: “Being leader of an important party it doesn’t become you to RT this. Arshad Sharif’s vile comment about your & Mian Sb’s loss is unforgivable but [please] remember as a leader you will have to grow a big heart and put that on display.”
Being leader of an important party it doesn’t become you to RT this. Arshad Sharif’s vile comment about your & Mian Sb’s loss unforgivable but plz remember as a leader you will have to grow a big heart and put that on display
— Ayesha Siddiqa (@iamthedrifter) October 25, 2022
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry termed the PLM-N leader's tweet insensitive, saying it only showed her evilness.
اس بیان سے ارشد شریف کی توہین کرنا مقصد تھا لیکن اس بیان سے آپ کی ذہنیت مزید آشکار ہوئ ہے،آپ کو شرم آنی چاہئے تھی اس وقت جب پورا ملک ارشد شریف کی شہادت سے دکھ اور گریہہ کی کیفیت ہے آپ نے صرف ارشد کی والدہ اور خاندان کے دکھ میں نہیں ہر پاکستانی کے دکھ میں اضافہ کیا ہے #ShameOnYou https://t.co/WLUGL4yKzI
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 25, 2022
Ajmal Jami said “Inhumane, heartless and unbelievable to see this at a very tragic incident. I hope it will be deleted soon. Rehm kijiey pls! (have some mercy please)”
Inhumane, heartless and unbelievable to see this at a very tragic incident. I hope it will be deleted soon. Rehm kijiey pls! https://t.co/fSpmEaKk2T
— Ajmal Jami (@ajmaljami) October 25, 2022
Sara Taseer said, “When I think @MaryamNSharif can’t go any lower she wins the challenge to prove me wrong. Big applause for belonging to the depths of the gutter.”
When I think @MaryamNSharif can’t go any lower she wins the challenge to prove me wrong. Big applause for belonging to the depths of the gutter. #ArshadShariff https://t.co/Pdkjk3IG8n
— Sara Taseer (@sarataseer) October 25, 2022
Journalist Ahmed Norani tweeted “I could never have imagined this from you. Arshad had never used derogatory words against Begum Kulsoom Nawaz after her death. Falling to this level is the basic difference between sane people and lowlifes. Alas!”
Another Journo Sadia Afzal termed it extremely insensitive and inhumane.
Other local as well as foreign journalists including some organisations also reacted to the 'vile' tweet.
کہنا تو نہی چاہتا تھا مگر یہ فتنہ عمران اور اس کے یوتھیوں کے لئیے خبر
— WAD (@ChaudharyWAD) October 25, 2022
یہ اینکر کہتا تھا کہ نوازشریف نے اپنی مرحومہ ماں کو پارسل کرکے بھیجا ہے اس اینکر نے بہت پروگرام کئیے جس میں دوسروں کی بیماری اور موت کا مذاق اڑایا
آج دیکھیں وہ وقت خود اس اینکر پر آگیا
میں پھر بھی اس 1/2 pic.twitter.com/NLAXEZIawd
When Kulsoom Nawaz (L) was ill Arshad sharif prayed for her and when this disgusting lady Maryam Nawaz was ill arshad sharif prayed for her quick recovery and look what Arshad sharif got in return. This pathetic woman is not worth calling a human being.. pic.twitter.com/zyoQliK6tI
— Saith Abdullah (@SaithAbdullah99) October 25, 2022
Maryam Nawaz represents the very worst of Pakistan!
— CJ Werleman (@cjwerleman) October 25, 2022
What a disgraceful and shameful act by @MaryamNSharif 😼 pic.twitter.com/RZEb2ZnPbD
— Fiaz Ahmad (@fiazfqk) October 25, 2022
This woman will play politics even with someone’s death & justify it.
— Richard Harris (@HarrisRichard77) October 25, 2022
Appalling behaviour.
Fear God that He doesn’t teach You a lesson in this lifetime.
Then you shouldn't have esp if you don't felt good.
— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) October 25, 2022
زرا دماغ کا استعمال کریں اور سوچیں کتنا فرق ہے وہ ملک میں واپس آنا چاہ رہا تھا آپ کے بھائیوں کی طرح نہیں کہ بس میت بھیج دی۔۔۔وہ اکیلا گیا تھا اس لیے اکیلا آرہا شہادت کا رتبہ پا کرآرہا ہے۔ اگر اس کا خاندان باہر ہوتا تو یقیناً ساتھ آتا
— Arslan Jutt (@ArslanJutt43) October 25, 2022
مریم نواز شرم کر
— Javeria Siddique (@javerias) October 25, 2022
اور اللہ سے ڈر https://t.co/HDUeCt1EIf pic.twitter.com/F5gObpIlr9
ناصرف مریم نواز کوارشد شریف کےحوالے سےٹویٹ ڈیلیٹ کرنا چاہیئےبلکہ معافی بھی مانگنی چاہیئے۔کسی بھی انسان کو ذیب نہیں دیتاکہ کسی کی موت پر یہ سوچے کہ اس نے اپنا حساب برابر کرنا ہے۔یہ وقت ارشد شریف کےلواحقین کےساتھ کھڑاہونےاور انہیں انصاف دلانےکاہے،نہ کہ ایسےبیانات کا۔ pic.twitter.com/jWtVJlFA8c
— Shahzeb Khanzada (@shazbkhanzdaGEO) October 25, 2022
This is in such a bad taste. If you can’t say something nice, there’s no need to say something like this too in times when someone is dead and his family is tormented. Who else can understand this better than you? But we never learn from our mistakes.
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) October 25, 2022
Factually incorrect … pic.twitter.com/ImmV8G6Tkp
— Waseem Badami (@WaseemBadami) October 25, 2022
Rule of thumb is, if you're not feeling good doing something, that thing is not good in all probability. The easiest solution would be not to do it. Silence is the most powerful scream.
— Marvi Sirmed (@marvisirmed) October 25, 2022
Condemnable and heartless comment .. if you had nothing to say nice then you could have kept quiet
— Mona Khan (@mona_qau) October 25, 2022
ایک سیاسی جماعت کی لیڈر کا اس موقع پر ایسا بیان قابل افسوس ہے، کیا یہ سیاست نہیں؟، ایک انسان چلا گیا، اس کی ماں،اس کے بچوں اور پورے خاندان کا تو سوچیں ان پر کیا قیامت گزر رہی ہے، سیاست میں شائستگی کا درس دینے کے بجائے ایسے تنقیدی ٹویٹ کر کے کیا سبق دے رہی ہیں؟۔
— Khurram Iqbal (@khurram143) October 25, 2022
شرم کا مقام کے آپ کے لئے۔ مرے ہوئے لوگوں پر بھی سیاست کر رہی ہیں آپ۔
— Sehar Shinwari (@SeharShinwari) October 25, 2022
ایک صحافی اور پانچ بچوں کے باپ کے دردناک قتل پر ایسا ردِعمل دینا آپکو زیب نہیں دیتا، اس سے بہتر تھا آپ خاموش رہتیں۔۔22 کروڑ عوام سکتے میں ہیں، آپ کے اس ردِعمل سے ان کی تکلیف میں اضافہ ہوا۔۔کاش ہم اختلافات کو نفرت میں بدلنے سے بچا سکتے 😢😢
— Muqadas Farooq Awan (@muqadasawann) October 25, 2022
You're so insensitive Maryam, please grow up and have a life and some shame! pic.twitter.com/N6bW4lqbHD
— Saima Khan (@isktweets) October 25, 2022
موازنہ ہے ارشد کی سوچ کا اور مریم صفدر کی سوچ کا۔ افسوس سیاسی مخالف بھی اتنا کم ضرف ملا- آپ نے اپنی اصلیت دکھا دی آج pic.twitter.com/oQWs5nId34
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) October 25, 2022
درست بات۔ مقابلہ زندہ لوگوں سے کیا جاتا ہے وہ بھی تہذیب کے دائرہ میں رہ کر، جو فوت ہو جائے اُس سے کیسا مقابلہ! غلطی پر معافی مانگنا اور غلط عمل کو درست کرنا بڑائی کی بات ہے۔ https://t.co/nSFxEwLJNe
— Ansar Abbasi (@AnsarAAbbasi) October 25, 2022
Anger spread across Pakistan after ruling party key leader Maryam Nawaz controversial comments on the tragic death of journalist #ArshadSharif who was killed by Kenya police on Sunday night. Already nation criticized her Holi celebrations on day when nation mourns Arshad death https://t.co/by4rZrPpeN
— The South Asia Times (@thesouthasiatim) October 25, 2022
ایک طرف قوم ارشد شریف کی شہادت پر غمزدہ تو دوسری جانب مریم نواز نے بے حسی، بغض، عناد، اور سفاکیت کی انتہاء کر دی
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 25, 2022
#ArshadSharifShaheed pic.twitter.com/rjgqtHMwpc
Maryam Nawaz represents the very worst of Pakistan!
— Kathy Peterson (@555Says) October 25, 2022
"عمران خان قوم کی اخلاقیات خراب کر رہا ہے جبکہ مریم نواز کی ٹویٹ قوم کی اخلاقی قدریں بحال ہو گئی ہیں۔" پی ڈی ایم کا متوقع بیانیہ
— Shafaat Ali (@iamshafaatali) October 25, 2022
A journalist in London also asked Maryam about her ‘vile’ tweet but she did not respond.
جی یہ بھی دیکھ لیں۔۔۔ pic.twitter.com/mp74qzdjQR
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) October 25, 2022
Question asked twice by @FaridQureshi_UK but no response. #ArshadSharif pic.twitter.com/54VFEHEMNq
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) October 25, 2022
Maryam 'apologises'
Hours after Maryam’s tweet sparked fury from prominent figures, the PML-N leader finally deleted the tweet and apologised for it.
She clarified that her tweet was not aimed at mocking the deceased journalist’s death “but about learning our lessons from the past”.
My tweet was NOT aimed at mocking someone but about learning our lessons from the past. I am undoing the tweet & apologise for the hurt it may have caused to the aggrieved which never was my intention. May no one ever have to go through this pain. Prayers for the bereaved family.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 25, 2022
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