Featured Fact Check: No - Imran Khan Doesn't Think Bin Laden is a Martyr

[Morpheus]

Tribune Fact Check: No — Imran Khan doesn't think Osama bin Laden is a martyr
By Social Desk
Published: June 26, 2020
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The claim is false as PM Imran misspoke, his adviser Shahbaz Gill issued a clarification.PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

Footage of Prime Minister Imran Khan calling the slain al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden a martyr has gone viral, especially in India where their official propaganda machine has gone into an overdrive to malign Pakistan.

The Express Tribune has analysed the video and previous interviews of Khan and found the premier merely misspoke as has been clarified by his spokesperson.

What he said?

“I will never forget how we Pakistanis were embarrassed when the Americans came into Abbottabad and killed Osama bin Laden, martyred him,” PM Imran said in his speech while recounting the lows of the relationship between Islamabad and Washington.

The segment of the speech soon went viral in India, which is always on the lookout for an opportunity to malign Pakistan, and was shown as supposed proof that Pakistan supported the terror group.

Clarification

Special assistant to PM on political communication Dr Shahbaz Gill denounced an “unwarranted attempt” to create a controversy.

Referring to PM’s speech in NA today, it is clarified that PM twice used the word “killed” for OBL. An unwarranted attempt is being made at home/abroad with a clear intent to make his remarks controversial unnecessarily.

— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) June 25, 2020

“Referring to PM’s speech in NA today, it is clarified that PM twice used the word ‘killed’ for Osama bin Laden. An unwarranted attempt is being made at home/abroad with a clear intent to make his remarks controversial unnecessarily,” Gill wrote on his official Twitter handle.

PM’s and Pakistan’s commitment against terrorism is unwavering and our track record in eliminating this menace is better than anyone else in the world.

— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) June 25, 2020

He went on to add that “Islamabad’s commitment against tis unwavering and our track record in eliminating this menace is better than anyone else in the world”.

Sci-tech Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Information Minister Shibli Faraz have also clarified that it was misstep.

PML-N leader Khawaja Asif was among those who objected to the premier’s remark. He described Bin Laden as the “ultimate terrorist”.

“He destroyed my nation, and he (Imran) is calling him a martyr,” Asif said in his reply on the floor of the house.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, whose PPP was in power when Bin Laden was killed, accused the prime minister of appeasing violent extremism.
Premier Imran’s stance on Bin Laden has been consistent and clear as it evident from his previous interviews.

When India’s NDTV had asked him about the death of Bin Laden, he had said, “The way in which he [Osama bin Laden was killed has made him a martyr in the eyes of certain extremist circles.”


The prime minister went on to say that Washington should have taken him into custody and then put him on trial to “demystify” the entire episode.


“Osama should have been dealt with the same way Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and the Nazi leaders were held accountable for their crimes,” he added.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/225037...ran-khan-doesnt-think-osama-bin-laden-martyr/

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

So, does this put it into context?

 

[Sabretooth]

But how many slip of tongues are to be given the benefit of doubt though? Honestly he is not making life easier for his supporters. These are critical times and he seriously needs to get his act together.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

But how many slip of tongues are to be given the benefit of doubt though? Honestly he is not making life easier for his supporters. These are critical times and he seriously needs to get his act together.

He's a human being, not a machine, and he likes to speak off the cuff without a teleprompter or notes (which is part of his appeal), so mistakes are going to happen.

Also, we tend to look at things from a Western perspective of every word being scrutinized, and that's not really how politics works in Pakistan. Imran Khan is first and foremost a Pakistani politician and his job/goal is to ensure that his party continues to increase or maintain domestic support to get reelected.

From a Western perspective, his spokesperson has clarified his comments and, if need be, IK will be asked this question the next time he's interviewed by the Western media and he'll clarify personally. The foreign office has probably already reached out to US and other Western diplomats to clarify the comments so at an official level this has likely already been addressed.

Where the problem will likely arise is with vested interests that have a strong anti-Pakistan bent in intelligentsia, think tanks etc who will leverage this faux pas and milk it for everything it is worth. The broader fall out in the West in terms of public perception will likely be limited because of everyone's attention focused on the surge in COVID-19 infections in the US, BLM protests etc.

 

[Sabretooth]

He's a human being, not a machine, and he likes to speak off the cuff without a teleprompter or notes (which is part of his appeal), so mistakes are going to happen.

Also, we tend to look at things from a Western perspective of every word being scrutinized, and that's not really how politics works in Pakistan. Imran Khan is first and foremost a Pakistani politician and his job/goal is to ensure that his party continues to increase or maintain domestic support to get reelected.

From a Western perspective, his spokesperson has clarified his comments and, if need be, IK will be asked this question the next time he's interviewed by the Western media and he'll clarify personally. The foreign office has probably already reached out to US and other Western diplomats to clarify the comments so at an official level this has likely already been addressed.

Where the problem will likely arise is with vested interests that have a strong anti-Pakistan bent in intelligentsia, think tanks etc who will leverage this faux pas and milk it for everything it is worth. The broader fall out in the West in terms of public perception will likely be limited because of everyone's attention focused on the surge in COVID-19 infections in the US, BLM protests etc.

Sure he is human being but this is unforgivable world of dirty politics. Optics matters as much in Pakistan as they in the West. One of these days one too many mistakes will cost him all his good intentions. Lets hope it doesn't come to that because I voted for him twice.

 

[Meengla]

He's a human being, not a machine, and he likes to speak off the cuff without a teleprompter or notes (which is part of his appeal), so mistakes are going to happen.

I don't doubt your good wishes for Pakistan, but, come on, 'mistakes' like these are unacceptable. Imran Khan has been a politician for decades and should know that a terrorist like OBL was an enemy of Pakistan, a huge embarrassment to Pakistan, and also OBL has been roundly rejected by Pakistanis--10,000 Jamaat e Islami supporters offering funeral prayers for OBL notwithstanding.

'Mistakes' like this are inexcusable. Imran Khan made similar mistake when he was with the Iranian President in Iran in a press conference where Imran implied that bad people from Pakistan sometimes cross into Iran...

On a related note.. Zulfi Bhutto is still blamed for 'Idhr Hum, Udher Tum' (We are here, you are there) statement in 1971 about the then East Pakistan. Regardless of what Bhutto said then he was not responsible for the breakup of Pakistan--not by a long shot. But that statement is still being used to malign him.

So Words are important. And Imran Khan--and the rest of Pakistanis, for that matter--need to get out of calling everyone 'Shaheed' (martyr) habit.

PS. Imran Khan is definitely not a Taliban Khan. Perhaps an occasional dimwit in the use of words.

 

[IceCold]

“He destroyed my nation, and he (Imran) is calling him a martyr,” Asif said in his reply on the floor of the house.

No he did not! It was your leader Nawaz with your unwavering support that destroyed my country.

 

[KhanBaba2]

All Imran has to do is make a statement that he does not consider OBL to be a martyr.

 

[PradoTLC]

Ahhh.. the halabaloo as expected ... much to do about nothing

 

[litman]

imran khan's "slip of tongue" very often lands him in trouble.

 

[Protest_again]

How is this a fact check? It's a mistake correction that too not by the individual himself.

 

[Hiraa]

He obviously meant that OBL is a “shaheed” for terrorist groups who saw him as a hero.
but yes could be interpreted in the wrong way by international media.

 

[Mujahid Memon]

We don't know whether "Osama bin Laden" was a real person or just a fictional imaginary comic character and people here are arguing on whether to call him martyr or not.

 

[PradoTLC]

All Imran has to do is make a statement that he does not consider OBL to be a martyr.

and if doesnt so what?..

it is not exactly he voted a proven terrorist to power.

 

[KhanBaba2]

and if doesnt so what?..

it is not exactly he voted a proven terrorist to power.

If he doesn't the world is going to think the PM of Pakistan is a terrorism supporter.

Have you attempted to put this 'proven terrorist' on the UN proscribed list.