Published 22:46 IST, September 27th 2019
Imran Khan's UNGA speech: 7 bizarre statements made by Pakistan's PM
In comparison to PM Modi's crisp, compelling 74th UNGA speech here are the seven absurd things the Prime Minister of Pakistan said during his speech.Â
Imran Khan, in a 45-minute lengthy speech at the 74th UN General Assembly extensively complained about India, admitted to Pakistan's backing for Mujahideen and the country's flimsy economy and retaliated to US President Donald Trump's 'radical Islamic terror' remark.
In comparison to PM Modi's crisp, compelling speech, here are the seven absurd things the Prime Minister of Pakistan said during his speech.
1. Cash-strapped Pakistan asks for funding
During his address at UN General Assembly at the international forum, Imran Khan speaking of climate change, asked for fundings from the world leaders by stating that they have a 'lot of ideas,' however, no money to execute it.
He said, "First let me talk about climate change, I have seen a lot of leaders talk about this. But I don’t see world leaders really realising the urgency of the situation. We have a lot of ideas, but as they say, ideas without funding is a mere hallucination."
2. Imran's hypocrisy
While the Prime Minister of Pakistan allotted a generous amount of time in his speech to speak for the Islamic community, Imran Khan yet again, overlooked the plight of over a million people of the Muslim community in China, specifically the Uighur Muslims.
Pakistan's "all-weather" friend China has been found to detain the minority community in "re-education" camps. In a new report alleged that Xi Jinping's government is practicing child separation and even organ harvesting against the community. The world has raised its voice against China's attempt of ethnic cleansing. However, China found no mention in Pakistan's speech, he said, "In western society, the holocaust is treated with sensitivity because it hurts the Jewish community. So that’s the same respect we ask for; do not hurt our sentiments by maligning our Holy Prophet. That is all we ask."
3. Pakistan is 'disbanding' terror groups
Even as Pakistan has been receiving backlash globally over their backing for terror, Imran Khan, in a blatant lie said that his government decided to 'disband' terror groups from the country. However, both Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed, UN-designated terrorists seek refuge on Pakistani soil.
Imran Khan said, "70,000 Pakistanis lost their lives, due to a war Pakistan had nothing to do with. No Pakistani was involved in 9/11. So when we came into power; we decided to disband all militant groups. And this was a decision taken by all political parties."
4. Pakistan's FATF accusation
Imran Khan in his speech pinned the blame on India, calling it an "agenda," for facing the heat of FATF. However, Pakistan has repeatedly found itself under FATF fire for failing to act upon terror funding. FATF minced no words for four years- 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2019 while expressing its concerns over Pakistan's seriousness is dismantling terror outfits. Imran Khan accusing PM Modi said, "Post the elections, we realised Indians were trying to push us on the FATF blacklist to economically isolate us. That’s when we realised there was an agenda."
5. Threatened a "Pulwama-like" attack
Despite Pakistan-based Masood Azhar's Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility to the Pulwama terror attack perpetrated on February 14, Imran Khan said that he 'feared another Pulwama incident' for India's "cruelty" in Kashmir.
He said, "We fear another Pulwama incident. And for that, India will again blame Pakistan. Why would we ever want to disrupt peace? But it’s because there is no other narrative left for India. There will be another Pulwama incident because of their own cruelty in Kashmir, they will blame us and try to bomb us again."
6. Imran's Hollywood reference
The Pakistani Prime Minister made an absurd Hollywood reference to defend terrorism, stating the possibility of a terror attack in Kashmir. He said, "When people lose the will to live, they pick up guns. A movie 'Death Wish' depicts how a boy picks up guns and starts killing all muggers. If you are doing this to human beings, pushing them, you are leading to radicalisation. We’ve been brought up watching films; a good guy doesn’t get justice.... he picks up a weapon, and a whole cinema cheers him on. What has been the response of the world community on any atrocities in the Muslim world?"
7. Cricket references
Pakistan Prime Minister and a former Pakistani cricketer repeatedly brought up his former cricket career at the UN General Assembly podium. Justifying his awareness of a 'Western mind,' he said that he has played cricket in the West.
He said, "Most important thing I want to say, to explain this Islamophobia, I've played cricket in the West and I know how the western mind works. 1 of the reasons for Islamophobia, in 1989 this book was published maligning, ridiculing our Prophet." "And then India, let me tell you my relationship with India. Because of cricket, which is followed with great passion in the subcontinent, I have great friends in India. I’ve always loved going to India," Imran Khan added.
Updated 23:00 IST, September 27th 2019