My intention was that our conversations should remain centered on the issue itself — without turning into personal or collective blame games. But, as usual, what I witnessed was disheartening: instead of holding Israel, the United States, or Donald Trump accountable, many of our friends from Tehreek-e-Insaf began targeting religious parties instead.
On the other hand, these very same people, who once ridiculed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for meeting Donald Trump — calling it an act of disgrace — were the ones who once celebrated Imran Khan’s meetings with Trump as if they were victories of epic proportions. They boasted for years that “Trump calls Khan his friend,” that “Trump’s wife admires him,” that “Khan sits cross-legged before the world’s most powerful man.”
But after their repeated failed attempts to secure Khan’s release, instead of turning to God, they turned to Trump — pinning their hopes on him.
Before the U.S. elections last November, the consensus across the Muslim community was crystal clear: since Donald Trump was an openly anti-Muslim candidate, Muslims should not vote for him. Yet, in Michigan — of all places — one group of Muslims openly campaigned for Trump and even announced fundraising for him. That group was largely composed of Pakistani-Americans — mostly supporters of Tehreek-e-Insaf.
From mosques to living rooms, Trump’s campaign was promoted enthusiastically. Proposals were made to hold rallies, play songs, and collect donations. In New York, celebrations were even held for his victory. From Pakistan to the U.S., they tied their hopes to Trump — believing that as soon as he came to power, he would personally order Imran Khan’s release.
Meanwhile, the conduct of some of our PTI friends in America has gone unchecked. There is hardly a pro-Israel or Zionist member of Congress whose door they did not knock on — from Brad Sherman to Chuck Schumer, all were courted. Even Richard Grenell — Trump’s close associate and an openly controversial figure — became a man to whom Pakistani political figures bowed for help.
Yes, the same Richard Grenell who openly identified as gay — yet PTI representatives like Shahbaz Gill and Moeed Pirzada went to his door, pleading for assistance.
Protests were staged outside IMF offices, urging that Pakistan’s aid be blocked — in order to pressure the government. Ironically, these were the same people who once claimed to be champions of human rights, now lobbying the same Congress members who are the fiercest defenders of Israel’s oppression in Palestine.
Initially, it was loudly proclaimed that as soon as the U.S. election results were announced, Trump’s first declaration would be the release of Imran Khan. When that didn’t happen, PTI leaders reassured supporters that Trump would announce Khan’s release immediately after taking the oath of office.
But that promise too faded away. January 20th came and went, and every month thereafter, on the 11th, new rumors spread — “today might be the day.”
Some even claimed that Trump’s household had been “infiltrated” — that contacts had been made through his daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and close friends — and that any moment now, “the greatest leader of the Muslim Ummah” would be freed.
Even during the recent meeting between Shehbaz Sharif and Trump, PTI supporters were convinced that Trump would somehow raise Khan’s issue. Khan’s own sons reportedly held on to that same hope.
And yet — among all PTI leaders — not one, not Moeed Pirzada, not Shahbaz Gill, not Qasim Suri — could utter even a single word against Israel, against Trump, or in favor of the oppressed people of Palestine.
I do not wish to target Imran Khan personally. But the truth must be told: he congratulated Donald Trump on his electoral victory, and he has tweeted about everything under the sun — from cricket to the weather to Mohsin Naqvi — yet for an entire year, not a single statement emerged in support of Palestine or against Israel’s atrocities.
When asked, his supporters reply that Khan is “helpless.” And yet this same “helpless” leader insists, “I write all my tweets myself.”
Reports say he has held over 1,500 meetings in two years, more than 300 of them with his sisters, who relay his messages externally — and still, not a word for Palestine. Ironically, during this same period, his side expressed support for IMF and Saudi agreements. How, then, can such people call others hypocrites?
I genuinely wish for PTI to reemerge as a strong political force — to win elections, to play a constructive role in governance — but not on a foundation of falsehood, blame, and hypocrisy.
How many of their leaders in America joined protests for Palestine? How many spoke a single sentence for the martyrs of Gaza? In Pakistan too, when leaders like Senator Mushtaq Ahmad of Jamaat-e-Islami took to the streets for Palestine, not a single PTI representative stood beside them. Yet they frequently post about him — not out of solidarity, but mockery.
I am certain that the ordinary PTI worker’s heart beats for Palestine — but love demands expression. You cannot claim solidarity with Palestine while using its name only to attack religious groups, the establishment, or the government. Those who have raised their voices for seventy years deserve respect, not ridicule.
By mocking them, you are, knowingly or not, helping the Zionists. Even Israeli newspapers acknowledge that the Shehbaz government faces strong criticism from pro-Palestine groups like Jamaat-e-Islami — but our friends dismiss even that as a joke.
For God’s sake, free yourselves from this mental illness and political hypocrisy.
And let the government know this as well: if it ever betrays the sacred cause of Palestine, it may gain temporary success in this world — but humiliation will be its ultimate fate, in both this world and the next.
