Maryam Nawaz, Bilawal Bhutto or Fazlur Rehman: Here is Sher Afzal Marwat's pick for lunch

An undated video circulating on social media shows a reporter asking maverick politician Sher Afzal Marwat whom he would prefer to have lunch with, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz, Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari or Chief Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Recently expelled from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Marwat, known for being forthright, took no time in choosing Bhutto for lunch. “My choice is Bilawal Bhutto,” he said.

On being asked about the reason behind choosing the Chairman PPP, Marwat asserted, “Bilawal is the son of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and the grandson of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (late). This family has made sacrifices for democracy. So I have respect for Bilawal.”

The reporter then moved to another question. “If Bilawal Bhutto asked you which parliamentarian he should marry, whom would you suggest,” the reporter asked. “I don’t believe that Bilawal should marry a parliamentarian,” Marwat responded.

When pressed further on whether Chairman PPP should marry someone from the entertainment world or another profession, Marwat said, “I would give my advice privately, not publicly." However, he did emphasise that Bhutto should get married now.

The video is going viral on social media, a day after Marwat, while speaking to a private media outlet, had remarked that former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif was wrongfully removed, alluding to his 2017 disqualification from power over undeclared assets.

Marwat said, “Definitely, Nawaz Sharif was wrongfully removed. Removing him for not receiving a salary from his son was [unjustified],” adding that Sharif could have been disqualified in the Panama Papers case or the Avenfield case instead. 

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) firebrand further alleged that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (r) Qamar Javed Bajwa was involved in orchestrating Sharif's removal from office, noting that ex-Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar facilitated Bajwa. 

He also alleged that PTI leader Raoof Hassan was removed as the party's information secretary owing to the fact that he used to record all political committee meetings and then sell them. 

Asked about who he was selling the information to, Marwat said that Hassan was selling information to media and YouTubers. “He [Hassan] used to inform the establishment about everything," he alleged.

Marwat's statement against PRI leaders came after being expelled from PTI last week. A notification issued on PTI’s official X (formerly Twitter) account had said, “Further to the Show Cause Notice issued to Mr Sher Afzal Marwat and his subsequent reply, the party has considered his reply and also his actions subject to the Show Cause notice.”

 
“Taking both these aspects into consideration and on the instructions of Founding Chairman Imran Khan, Mr. Sher Afzal Marwat is being expelled from the party with immediate effect.”