Fatima Bhutto slams Hina Rabbani Khar
Bhutto criticizes Pakistan's new foreign minister for towing the line; questions her nomination.
Fatima Bhutto, granddaughter of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto criticized Hina Rabbani Khar for toeing the line in her new role as Pakistan's foreign minister.
Bhutto told Deutsche Welle in an interview that she was not concerned with Khar’s age or gender -- what mattered for her was Khar’s work.
“What is sad about the political culture of Pakistan is that we don’t talk about ideas, we just talk about people. Gender is never a substitute for ethics or justice... I don’t care whether she is young or old, or a woman. I want to know what she is saying. And what she is saying seems to be exactly the same thing that people have been saying before for the last 30 years,” Deutsche Welle quoted Bhutto.
Answering a question about Khar being a part of the small elite that rules Pakistan, Bhutto said that if democratic institutions are not strengthened, dynasties that have ruled Pakistan in the past will supersede the democratic process.
Deutsche Welle quoted Bhutto saying “making someone like Khar foreign minister sends a message especially to young people that the only way into politics in Pakistan is through families - and for a country of 180 million people that’s a really rotten thing to tell them.”
Talking about the problems faced by Pakistan, Bhutto said that corruption has become a part of the political culture and violence has become an acceptable thing. However, she called Pakistan a survivors’ country.
“I think it’s a place that survives against the odds: the ordinary people that make it run,” Bhutto said.
Correction: Due to a typographical error, the word 'toeing' was misspelled as 'towing' in the earlier version of the article. The error has been rectified.
Bhutto told Deutsche Welle in an interview that she was not concerned with Khar’s age or gender -- what mattered for her was Khar’s work.
“What is sad about the political culture of Pakistan is that we don’t talk about ideas, we just talk about people. Gender is never a substitute for ethics or justice... I don’t care whether she is young or old, or a woman. I want to know what she is saying. And what she is saying seems to be exactly the same thing that people have been saying before for the last 30 years,” Deutsche Welle quoted Bhutto.
Answering a question about Khar being a part of the small elite that rules Pakistan, Bhutto said that if democratic institutions are not strengthened, dynasties that have ruled Pakistan in the past will supersede the democratic process.
Deutsche Welle quoted Bhutto saying “making someone like Khar foreign minister sends a message especially to young people that the only way into politics in Pakistan is through families - and for a country of 180 million people that’s a really rotten thing to tell them.”
Talking about the problems faced by Pakistan, Bhutto said that corruption has become a part of the political culture and violence has become an acceptable thing. However, she called Pakistan a survivors’ country.
“I think it’s a place that survives against the odds: the ordinary people that make it run,” Bhutto said.
Correction: Due to a typographical error, the word 'toeing' was misspelled as 'towing' in the earlier version of the article. The error has been rectified.