Indignant Iqbal calls for an end to ‘container revolution’

Points out the differences in rhetoric depending on whether the Qadri and Imran's speeches were in English or Urdu

KARACHI: In a lengthy speech in a joint session of Parliament today, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal accosted PTI chairman Imran Khan and PAT chief Tahirul Qadri for conducting a ‘closed-container inqilab’ all the while making a Pakistan a laughing stock internationally.

Iqbal also directed his ire towards PAT and PTI’s protesting tactics and the media.

“The world has seen the velvet revolution, the orange revolution but never this container revolution,” he lamented. At the same time, he accused both Imran and Qadri of putting their supporters in harm’s way, and of breaking their promises that the protests would remain peaceful.

“I have taken part in demonstrations all my life, children were never put forward,” the federal minister said, glowering.

“We fought ourselves. We didn’t lock ourselves in containers or hide behind our youth or women,” he added, alluding to the ever-present containers that Imran and Qadri address their supporters from.

Iqbal also had harsh words to say about Qadri and Imran’s 'antagonistic rhetoric'.

“If Imran Khan claims he has studied from Oxford then his words should be reflective of this,” Iqbal said. “‘Oye PM’ and other phrases like this should not be used.”

Mind your language

He alluded to the marked differences in rhetoric depending on the language used.

“I’m shocked at this container revolution. It has two mediums. Urdu and English. Urdu is abrupt and aggressive. It speaks of blood, coffins, deaths and corpses. English medium says we are here for peace, harmony, compassion and brotherhood,” the minister noted.

Earlier on Wednesday, Qadri, in a fiery speech against Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah, threatened that he would ‘strip [Shah] naked’. The speech was in Urdu.

“We can never think of using this kind of language for the Indian prime minister then why can’t we control our tongue when speaking about our own PM,” he said.

An international laughing stock

Iqbal took the time to explain how the protests have hurt Pakistani in diplomatic and economic circles. “The situation we are facing today has made Pakistan a joke,” Iqbal says.

“If you go on the internet and search ‘storming Parliament’ Pakistan will come up,” the minister said. “The steps the protesters have taken have now made us comparable to Libya, Kenya, Ukraine etc.”

“Beijing has said to Pakistan – You are a nuclear power nation. How can you allow citizens to storm your offices and take over?” he emphasised.

China canceled its president’s visit to Pakistan after it had scheduled one for late September. The cancellation comes amid precarious political circumstances and security threats in the capital, as the protesters continue to occupy Constitution Avenue, the heart of the capital, for a third week straight.

“We sit in our drawing rooms and question why Pakistan doesn’t grow like countries such as China, India, Korea and Malaysia,” says Iqbal.

Iqbal alleged that Pakistan is losing investors, and precious foreign exchange as a result, because of the perceived instability. “Investors will only want to invest if they know that the country has stability and growth.”

PTI’s ‘intransigence’

Iqbal also expressed frustration over the PTI’s alleged unwillingness to negotiate. “We listened to five out of six of your demands. What better deal do you want? Now please end these sit-ins and let the country move forward,” said an exasperated Iqbal.

“You said you would not enter the Red Zone but you did. You said you would not enter the PM house, but you did,” the minister said, referring to PTI supporters’ actions.

The role of the media

“In the history of Pakistan, no leader has received as much attention as these two leaders,” Iqbal observed. ”Even when they sneeze, the TV diverts their attention to them.”

His speech was not without humour. “Can we get 30 minutes of coverage? Maybe, we are not as good looking as them or maybe we are not as educated as them,” the minister.

He ended his speech with resolve, saying “If you want to continue playing the resignation card, you’ll have to continue playing because the prime minister will not hand in his resignation.”