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The ex-wife of Prime Minister Imran Khan Jemima Goldsmith is a name with whom many Pakistanis are familiar. A few people look at it with hatred, while others with compassion. Jemima’s recent tweet has sent social media in another frenzy.
Jemima Goldsmith propounded that Pakistan’s Government capitulated into the demands of fanatics to obstruct Asia Bibi from leaving Pakistan by putting her name on the exit control list (ECL ). In a tweet, she asserted, “Not the Naya Pakistan we’d hoped for. 3 days after a defiant & brave speech defending the judiciary, Pakistan’s gov caves into extremist demands to bar #AsiaBibi from leaving Pak, after she was acquitted of blasphemy- effectively signing her death warrant.”
Not the Naya Pakistan we’d hoped for. 3 days after a defiant & brave speech defending the judiciary, Pakistan’s gov caves in to extremist demands to bar #AsiaBibi from leaving Pak, after she was acquitted of blasphemy- effectively signing her death warrant https://t.co/YwUpRM8cnu
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) November 3, 2018
It is her first tweet in which she criticized Imran Khan’s government after PTI formally established the government in Pakistan. Her reference to ”Naya Pakistan” was similar to that of opposition in the national assembly of Pakistan. The slogan of Naya Pakistan is being greatly disparaged after the PTI led government enhanced tariff rates on gas and electricity and reached the agreement with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan.
It is pertinent to mention here, the government and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan reached a five-point agreement to end nationwide protestors’ sit-ins.
As per the agreement:
Imran Khan in his speech of October 31st said: “Pakistan is the only country in the Islamic world that vociferously raised the issue of blasphemous caricatures in the Netherlands. Pakistan talked to the Dutch government, raised the issue at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) forum and also spoke at the United Nations against blasphemy. Owing to our successful diplomacy, the European Court of Human Rights also said that blasphemy is not freedom of expression.” Although Imran Khan openly criticized the protestors and proclaimed that the State will impose its writ, reaching the agreement with protestors arose many questions.
Not only Jemima but many others reacted on Twitter against the agreement between the government and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan. The Prime Minister in his speech had raised the morals of the common man, but the government couldn’t uphold its word and decided to negotiate with the fanatics who run rampant on Pakistan’s streets.
Jibran Nasir, a social activist, and lawyer reacted in the following words
Do you condemn the agreement between Govt and TLP? Do you opposed putting #AsiaBibi name on ECL? Do you agree with SC judgment? Then let us speak up together. Share your reason for supporting judgment using #IStandWithSupremeCourt and #JusticeForAsia. Let us make it trend.
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) November 3, 2018
Minhaz, a biographer tweeted against the agreement
Pak PM @ImranKhanPTI surrenders to anti-blasphemy hardliners, bans #AsiaBibi leaving Pak & pledges not to oppose appeal against her acquittal— in effect signing her death warrant even as her lawyer flees Pak following death threats https://t.co/raS4z2dfgv
— Minhaz Merchant (@MinhazMerchant) November 3, 2018
Reema omer, a legal adviser asserted:
Regarding Point 2 of the “agreement” with TLP, can the Govt please clarify under what provision of Exit from Pakistan (Control) Rules can #Asiabibi be placed on the Exit Control List?
What steps can possibly be taken to give legal cover to what would be a blatantly unlawful act? pic.twitter.com/pX032hCkSa
— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) November 2, 2018
However, People and intellectuals of Pakistan believe the agreement does not negate the Prime minister’s stance against the extremists. Jemima also hopes in optimism, stating: “Still hoping there’s some plan afoot which we don’t know about.”
