by Salman Wali
When foreign media ask Pakistan’s official narrative about the genocide of Uyghur, instead of a satisfactory answer Pakistan’s spokesperson changes the topic.
Politics is one of the major institutions where religion is instrumentalized only for its gain. Pakistan’s official narrative and official statements of condemnation about violence and genocide in China of Uyghur Muslims and violence in Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya, and Yemen are quite different.
Pakistan seems very sensitive and concerned for Palestine and other mentioned countries and as a Muslim country it is a very right attitude but on the other hand, the violence in West China Xinjiang is totally ignored by the same Muslim country (Pakistan). Almost all the religious leaders who are considered as “Tekhadar” of religion are also found absolutely mum in the case of Uyghur.
When foreign media ask Pakistan’s official narrative about the genocide of Uyghur, instead of a satisfactory answer Pakistan’s spokesperson changes the topic. In an interview to the “Financial Time” Imran Khan was asked about Uyghur, where he had said: “Frankly, I don’t know much about the Uyghur issue”.
Moeed Yusuf (National Security Advisor the Prime Minister of Pakistan) was asked in an interview with Karan Thapar, but he could not respond to the question properly. Shah Mahmood Qureshi was asked a month ago by CNN and he also changed the topic and turn the question to Kashmir and Palestine issues.
Moreover, Imran Khan in an interview with Jonathan Swan was asked that why he was outspoken about Islamophobia in Europe and the United States but totally silent about the genocide of Muslims in West China, while they have imprisoned more than one million Muslims in re-education camps, also punished Muslims for fasting, praying, even giving Muslim names to their children.
The Prime Minister’s response was quite astonishing that China is a friend, they discuss these things (Uyghur Muslims) behind closed doors. He didn’t say a word against China. He was speechless but why? Because of CPAC or other major investments in Pakistan or he has other hidden pressures?
We do not understand the complications of politics; the only reality is we are groomed only emotionally enough to be part of instrumentalization. It’s time to contemplate that are we going in the right direction? It’s time to learn to behave sensibly not emotionally.
Salman Wali is from Pakistan. He is currently studying linguistics and Literature at Karakorum International University Pakistan.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not reflect Milli Chronicle’s point-of-view.
