Maryam Nawaz is again caught up in a tight spot following an ill-informed tweet on COAS Bajwa and Afghan NSA Hamdullah Mohib in the aftermath of the controversial meeting between former premier Nawaz Sharif and Afghan NSA.
On Friday night pictures of the former premier, Nawaz Sharif meeting the Afghan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib appeared on the official Twitter account of the National Security Council of Afghanistan. The pictures created a frenzy on social media and inflamed intense reactions on Pakistani Twitter.
The government of Pakistan has officially boycotted interacting with the NSA Hamdullah Mohib following his disgraceful remarks of Pakistan calling a ‘brothel’ in May this year. But Nawaz Sharif meeting the Afghan NSA did not go well with the users who censured him for compromising the interests of Pakistan and enemies allegedly while being away in London. Users vented an unapologetic criticism, calling the meeting an anti-Pakistan move.
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While Pakistan has boycotted Afghan NSA, upset Twitter users asked in what capacity Nawaz Sharif met him. They also inquired the PMLN leadership about the purpose of the meeting.
Hence, Maryam Nawaz jumped in to defend her father on social media along with the advocates of PML-N. Nawaz shared a picture of General Qamar Javed Bajwa (Chief of Army Staff) and Nawaz Sharif meeting the same Afghan NSA Hamdullah Mohib on her Twitter account.
Both pictures nice, no ? pic.twitter.com/W48qDlQD3J
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 24, 2021
For Nawaz Sharif to meet the Afghan NSA, Munib, only a few days after Munib called Pakistan a ‘brothel’ was a terrible insult to the Pakistani nation. Now, more than ever before, it is clear to me that we are well rid of this man.
— Zafar Hilaly (@ZafarHilaly) July 23, 2021
Personally, I believe this is a flawed comparison – Hamdullah Mohib was boycotted by Pakistani state since mid May this year after his "brothel" comments and not earlier – The ONLY difference between his meeting with COAS Bajwa and Ex PM Nawaz Sharif IS the timing https://t.co/ZMAUwXOZVo
— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) July 24, 2021
She, however, received flak for propagating misinformation on social media. The picture of COAS Bajwa meeting with Afghan NSA dates back to 2019 and perhaps was a part of the campaign ran by the advocates of Nawaz Sharif in his defense. The pictures were allegedly meant to create a pretense that a Pakistani state official also met Afghan NSA.
She strongly defended Nawaz Sharif in a series of tweets. “Pakistan’s peaceful existence with its neighbors is the very foundation of Nawaz Sharif’s ideology for which he has worked tirelessly,” wrote Nawaz Sharif.
Pakistan’s peaceful existence with its neighbours is the very foundation of Nawaz Sharif’s ideology for which he has worked tirelessly. pic.twitter.com/DqgLtNcLLI
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 24, 2021
“It is the very essence of diplomacy to talk to everyone, listen to their point of view and convey one’s message across: something this government doesn’t comprehend and hence is a complete failure on the international front,” added Maryam Nawaz.
The ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf immediately countered her narrative through an official statement in which they stated that none of the Pakistani officials have met Afghan NSA Hamdullah following his boycott.
Despicable of Nawaz Sharif to have met and Maryam Nawaz to proudly boast about this meeting when the person in pictures is known to have demonised Pakistan by calling it a “brothel house”. This family has now resorted to enmity with Pakistan even, to protect their corruption. https://t.co/SZOaIfmbC7
— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 24, 2021
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Pakistani Twitter is brimming with a heavy discourse on the meeting. Perhaps, controversial remarks of Maryam Nawaz have further beefed up problems for the opposition party, PMLN. Time will tell if the ongoing controversy will impact election results for PMLN in Azad Jammu Kashmir.