How did Opposition react to PM Khan’s meeting with Bill Gates?

ISLAMABAD: The Opposition, while keeping up with its line of criticizing the government, has voiced strong opinions regarding PM Imran Khan’s recent meeting with Microsoft co-founder billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates.

Earlier, Bill Gates met PM Imran Khan on Thursday during his first-ever visit to Pakistan. To clarify, the visit centered around Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio. PM Imran Khan warmly welcomed Bill Gates and also hosted a luncheon with top government officials in his honor. Moreover, Bill Gates and PM Khan had a one-on-one meeting.

Images of the meeting went viral on social media. As per the images, PM Imran Khan and Bill Gates can be seen sitting opposite each other in the premier’s office. However, the images became the target of Opposition criticism. According to PML-N, Bill Gates apparently did not receive the respect a foreign guest of his stature should deserve.

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif thought PM Imran Khan treated Bill Gates in a rude and arrogant manner.

“It is rude and arrogant to have a foreign guest seated like this,” Maryam Nawaz tweeted.

Similarly, Former Interior Minister and Secretary-General of PML-N, Ahsan Iqbal too voiced his displeasure at the seating arrangement of Bill Gates.

“Bill Gates is not a subordinate official or secretary. Imran Khan has an inflated ego. Guests like him should be treated with respect,” Ahsan Iqbal tweeted.

To further highlight Bill Gates’ esteem, Ahsan Iqbal provided a comparison of Microsoft’s net worth and Pakistan’s GDP.

PTI reacts to PML-N criticism

It remains unclear what exactly irked the Opposition. Perhaps it was the huge desk creating a considerable distance between PM Imran Khan and Bill Gates. Or maybe it was PM Khan’s calm demeanor. Nevertheless, PTI officials are having a field day with the Opposition’s reactions!

Azhar Mashwani, the digital media spokesperson for Punjab Chief Minister, advised Ahsan Iqbal to not stress over such matters as it can impact health.

Meanwhile, Muzzamil Aslam and Dr. Shahbaz Gill also criticized Ahsan Iqbal. To clarify, they criticized the PML-N leader for comparing Pakistan’s GDP with Microsoft’s revenues.

“Ex-planning Minister equating GDP with the net worth of a company. And revenues with exports. What a comparison. No wonder with these types of understanding, they experimented and destroyed the whole economy,” Muzzamil Aslam, the spokesperson to the Finance Minister tweeted.

Similarly, SAPM on Political communication Dr. Shahbaz Gill called out Ahsan Iqbal for discussing such trivial matters.

“These are the kind of issues left for them to discuss. The most notable thing in his tweet is the figures for Pakistani exports,” Dr. Shahbaz Gill tweeted. Moreover, he expressed confidence that this year Pakistan’s exports will cross $32 billion dollars

Apart from the PTI officials, Twitteratis too joined in and reminded Ahsan Iqbal of Maryam Nawaz’s questionable treatment of her own party workers.

Pertinent to mention, Bill Gates thanked PM Khan for inviting him and extending warm hospitality on his first-ever visit to Pakistan. Furthermore, he acknowledged that despite Covid-19 restrictions, Pakistan performed amazingly and continued to administer the polio vaccine.

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