‘Talk about business, poetry for another time’: PM Khan shuts a man for criticising govt

Prime Minister Imran Khan asked a man to stick to business matters instead of poetry when a man from the audience recited a critical poem targeting the premier after his address to the Pakistan-Tajikistan Business Forum.

Talk about business, poetry for another time: PM Imran Khan pic.twitter.com/5kljJmTtHu

— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) September 16, 2021

First the state-run TV muted his voice, and then the prime minister stopped him before he could complete his poem. 

“I have a verse for you, [which goes like] Itne zaalim na bano [don’t be unjust]. Imran Bhai, this is for you,” said the man in the audience.

“You have become a prisoner now. You used to be great when you were [protesting] on the container. Right now, we aren’t sure what you’ve gotten yourself involved in,” said the man. 

The man went on to recite part of the verse, “Zaalim na bano, kuch toh murawwat seekho…” before he was cut off. 

“Speak about matters related to business. We can make time for poetry later as well, Insha’Allah,” said the prime minister. 

Twitterati reacted to PM Khan not letting the man complete his poem.

Journalist Absar Alam tweeted, “Fear of criticism did not allow Khan Sahib to listen to the whole poem even though he was probably trying to complain through the poem.”

خوفِ تنقید (خوفِ تنقید) نے خاں صیب کو پورا شعر ہی نہیں سُننے دیا حالانکہ وہ صاحب تو شاید قصیدے کے ذریعے شکوہ کرنا چاہ رہے تھے۔۔۔پوُرا شعر 👇

اتنے ظالم نہ بنو کچھ تو مروت سیکھو
تم پہ مرتے ہیں تو کیا مار ہی ڈالو گے ہمیں https://t.co/IAGXp3mZBH

— Absar Alam (@AbsarAlamHaider) September 16, 2021

Journalist Raza Rumi posted a tongue-in-cheek tweet and asked who was this brash man asking PM such questions.

کون ہے یہ گستاخ؟
ایک تو شعر بے مروتی پہ پڑھا اور ساتھ میں یہ بھی کہ دیا کہ “ عمران بھائ اپ تو اب قیدی ہو گئے ہیں۰۰۰ کن لوگوں کے چکر میں آگئے”

ایک مصرع ہمیں بھی یاد آ گیا @i_m_nbc

اتنے مانوس صیاد سے ہو گئے، اب رہائی ملے گی تو مر جائیں گے pic.twitter.com/ciTrkxfole

— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) September 17, 2021