‘Osama Bin Laden is a martyr’: Anti-Imran Khan ads popup on trucks in US

Amid unprecedented support for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan from officials of Donald Trump’s incoming administration, multiple digital billboard trucks featuring controversial statements of the former premier have popped up across the United States (US).

Undated videos on social media showed trucks driving around Washington DC among other cities in the US, displaying a digital billboard bearing Khan’s past remarks about the Afghan Taliban and late Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.

“Osama bin Laden is a martyr,” read one of Khan’s statements. During his speech on the floor of the parliament during the 2020 budget session, then-prime minister (PM) Khan had said that Americans came to Abbottabad and “martyred Osama bin Laden”.

Another statement by Khan displayed on the digital display read, “Taliban’s holy war in Afghanistan is justified by Islamic Law [sic].” The former premier had made the statement in October 2012 when he referred to Taliban’s anti-US fighters as jihadis.

He had said whoever was fighting for their freedom was participating in jihad, and so the Afghan Taliban’s fight against foreign occupation was also jihad.

Among other anti-Khan adverts displayed on the trucks was the news of his disqualification by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for lying about Tyrian White, as well as the alleged threats he hurled at police officers in Pakistan.

With the campaign leaving netizens divided, some say it was planned to malign Khan ahead of Trump’s inauguration, whereas others said it was only a consequence of his “recklessness” since none of the statements were wrongly attributed to him.

One social media user said such campaigns only affected Pakistan’s reputation on the global stage while another highlighted how supporting an “extremist” like the former Pakistani premier could end up being a “threat to national security”.

“The diaspora must focus on unity and progress rather than divisive narratives. Let's channel our energies towards building a stronger Pakistan together,” said one user. Another netizen said that true patriotism was about constructive actions, not blind allegiance. “It’s time to support leaders and initiatives that genuinely prioritise the nation's welfare.”

Jailed Khan and his PTI have in recent weeks garnered quite the support from officials of the upcoming US administration amid social media campaigns calling on Trump to push for the release of the ousted former PM.

While Trump is yet to comment on the issue and Pakistan maintains that Khan’s trials and sentence are an internal matter, the president-elect’s aide on special missions Richard Grenell has been rather vocal in demanding the PTI founder’s freedom.