Shahbaz Gill was wronged, that is why he is bitter: Fawad Chaudhry

Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, while appearing on Samaa TV last night, defended PTI member Shahbaz Gill’s controversial posts on social media.

Senior journalist Absar Alam asked Chaudhry the efficacy of social media strategy in which many PTI leaders and workers were engaged in vitriol against the country, to which Fawad replied: “There needs to be a clear distinction between official PTI leaders’ social media posts and certain rogue elements who align themselves with PTI. Many of my PTI friends get angry with me when I tell them there isn’t much effort visible as it should be from PTI leaders to dissociate themselves from rogue elements.”

Absar Alam asked the former federal minister: “Do you not think that Shahbaz Gill, Azhar Mashwani directly represent PTI? So what is the difference between their hateful social media posts and others?”

Fawad replied: “When has Azhar Mashwani engaged in hateful posts against the country or establishment? In the case of Shahbaz Gill, a great injustice was done to him, and that is why sometimes he reacts angrily. Even you were treated unjustly. In my opinion, Shahbaz Gill is one of those people who were treated wrong and that is why they’re bitter.”

Shahbaz Gill, who served as the spokesperson of the Punjab Government during PTI’s tenure, was arrested in August 2022, a few months after PTI government collapsed.

The charges against Gill at the time included sections 34 (common intention), 109 (abetment), 120 (concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment), 121 (waging war against state), 124-A (sedition), 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempt to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty), 153 (provoking to cause riot), 505 (statement conducing to public mischief) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Fawad Chaudhry alleged that Gill had been abducted by unidentified personnel in cars with missing number plates.

Gill was hospitalised multiple times during his incarceration after he claimed “shortness of breath.” The Lahore High Court permitted Shahbaz Gill in March 2023 to travel to the United States, ordering the government to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

 
Gill actively complains to US officials by tagging their social media handles against Pakistani authorities and journalists on his official X handle (formerly Twitter). Gill took to X on December 16 to write: “ALARMING! Pakistan's leading TV channel @GeoTvNews has launched a vicious smear campaign against Richard Grenell  @RichardGrenell former US Ambassador to Germany, former Director National Intelligence and recently nominated as Trump’s envoy for special missions.”

Similarly, another post on December 17 by Gill read: “Couldn't agree more, @DarrenJBeattie! The Pakistani establishment's smear campaign against Richard Grenell is a blatant attempt to distract from his impressive credentials & achievements. Their homophobic attacks won't work!”

Fawad opined that the solution to dealing with Shahbaz Gill or people like him is to engage with them. Absar Alam smiled at this reply, saying: “But you people [PTI government] did not engage with anyone when you were in power. You used to say send them to jail.”

Chaudhry then claimed that the PTI’s tenure in power was the most relaxed era in the history of the country, during which the media earned significantly. 

Absar Alam laughed against saying: “You’re saying this with a straight face while looking at me.” Fawad replied in a lighter tone: “But you weren’t a journalist in our times.”

It is worth mentioning that journalist Absar Alam was shot in April 2021 near his residence in the federal capital during PTI’s tenure.

In September 2021, Absar Alam was charged with incitement against the Pakistan Army while the Punjab Police also made a legal request to register a case of high treason against him under Article 6. 

Fawad Chaudhry also stated: “In the past, PML-N and PPP had engaged in politics of hate, but later on they realised this cannot go on. In my opinion, there is a dominant opinion in PTI that this kind of politics cannot continue.”