Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan has called on the Muslims of the world to unite in ignoring the plight of the Chinese Muslim minority, which the world now recognizes as a genocide.
Imran Khan made the comments last week when speaking with media in Islamabad. He said China has invested a lot of money and resources into Pakistan as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, and does not want to hurt its feelings or arouse any animosity towards the country.
“China is Pakistan’s greatest ally. They have invested a lot of money in developing critical infrastructure, especially in the Gwadar Port. In the interest of economic development in Pakistan and the rest of Asia, I call on the Muslims around the world to completely ignore what is happening in Xinjiang. I will speak to them privately and discuss ways in which I can resolve whatever problems the two parties may be having.”
-Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan
Pakistan does not possess any political or economic leverage against China. With seemingly all economic eggs in one basket, Chinese investment in the country seems to be the only counterweight it possesses against its hegemonic neighbour, India.
Khan has called on world leaders to combat the rise of hate and violence against Muslims all over the world, siting Islamophobia as a growing threat to global peace and security.
“You know, when I was captain of Pakistan’s cricket team,” Khan recalled, “If I had a grave concern with someone I needed to achieve success with, I completely ignored even their worst behaviour, no matter how bad. Bad behaviour can sometimes be acceptable if there is a greater goal that needs to be reached.”
When asked about the contradiction between the PM’s remarks about the growing rise of Islamophobia in the world, and his indifference to Uyghur Muslims being detained in concentration camps, Khan said there is no contradiction.
“If China is committing genocide and putting people in concentration camps,” he said, “this is an internal matter and Pakistan chooses not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.” Continuing on, Khan said, “however, we will be very vocal in calling out Islamophobia in Western countries and India without hesitation.”
When pressed for a clear answer as to why he chooses not to press China more, Khan became visibly uncomfortable and angry.
A member of the Uyghur community who spoke to Satirica anonymously, said that Pakistan and Imran Khan contribute to Islamophobia by not including the Uyghurs in his concern for Muslims around the world.
“How can he speak up for Palestine or for Muslims in India or even the US, and completely ignore the Muslims across his own border. It seems he’s selective in his condemnation and bases it on who invests money into his country. The Muslims of Xinjiang cannot rely on Pakistan’s leadership in the face of my community’s extermination. Imran Khan sucks.”
After the line of questions involving China was done, Imran Khan proceeded to condemn India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s refusal to stop the recent violent attacks against Muslims in various parts of India by Hindu nationalists and extremists.
Picture: World Economic Forum, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
