LAHORE: A Pakistani minister’s description of himself as an “ordinary worker” for Field Marshal Asim Munir has sparked outrage on social media, with critics saying the remarks highlighted the military’s growing influence in civilian politics in the country.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Federal Energy Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, a close aide to the prime minister, said: “As a rank-and-file in the team led by Prime Minister Sherbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, I want to assure the public that as oil prices fall in the international market, we will reduce oil prices at the same pace.”
The minister’s comments sparked a backlash on social media, with critics questioning how far the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz is willing to go to appease the military establishment in what many describe as Pakistan’s “hybrid” governance system.
“When ministers start presenting themselves as ‘humble workers’ to the powerful rather than representatives of the people, one has to ask is this a democracy or a court of loyal servants?” Fatima Malik wrote on X.
Another user Mohsin Ali Khan said: “Ali Pervaiz Malik is just telling the truth, today’s federal minister is nothing but a humble worker of a military general.”
Waqar Ahmed posted, “A humble functionary of the Field Marshal. Muslim League-North has fallen so deep that calling it a party now is like an insult to politics itself.”
“Ministers now seem to have completely shed any pretense of political restraint. They no longer pretend to fully uphold democracy. Unbelievable,” journalist Maleha Hashemi posted on social media.
Senior TV anchor Talat Hussain said it was “shameful” for ministers to talk about public “relief” while leaving citizens to bear the burden of a sharp rise in oil prices.
“It is equally disgraceful,” he said, “that ministers sit in front of television cameras congratulating each other on their performance while the majority of the public struggle in dire economic conditions.”
“The entire ruling establishment seems to believe that wartime victory entitles them to look down upon the suffering of the people. This is simply disgraceful,” he added.
Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has announced that the country has established a “hybrid system”.
This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
