PM Imran likely to clarify ‘Osama martyred’ statement
Islamabad: All hell broke loose on Thursday when Prime Minister Imran Khan described former al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden as martyr.
International in general and Indian media in particular ran the statement of the Pakistani premier as breaking news.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Imran Khan said Osama bin Laden was martyred by Americans which causing embarrassment to Pakistan .
His remarks took the social media by storm as his critics lambasted him for making such a statement in the parliament.
The criticism was intense because at first Imran Khan said “Osama was killed” before correcting himself that he was “martyred”.
Commenting on his statement ,Deputy Director Asiam Program Michael Kugelman said :Imran Khan’s description of Osama Bin Laden as a martyr badly undermines Pakistan’s narrative that it no longer supports terrorists. If he just misspoke, one would expect a clarification. I don’t think there’s been one issued yet. It’s not a good look, no matter how you slice it.
He said that it was not a good day for Pakistan’s global image.
Khan’s allies in local media also criticized him for glorifying Osama bin Laden.
Veteran journalist Shaheen Sehbai insisted that it was a slip of the tongue on the prime minster’s part which was taken too seriously. He urged the government to clarify the statement.
European and American media outlets also highlighted Imran Khan’s statement which they said would create problems for Pakistan.
Most of his supporters still think it was a slip of the tongue and the prime minister would soon issue a clarification.