Bilawal Bhutto’s Protocol Brigade and the Rented Pipes-and-Drums Show in Pakistan-administered Kashmir’s City Mirpur In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Bilawal Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party has introduced a novel way of governance: **

protocol vehicles escort the minister, rented pipes & drums play festive music,& supporters place garlands around his neck.This is aimed to create the illusion of popular enthusiasm and strong public support, even though the government has not yet achieved anything substantial. **

This scene is from Mirpur city in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The man arriving in the cavalcade is a long-serving local minister who has held his position for more than four years. Until recently, Pakistan-administered Kashmir was governed by a three-party coalition: **

the PTI forward bloc, PPP, and PML-N. The prime minister who led this coalition — who himself belonged to the PTI forward bloc — was removed through a no-confidence motion brought against him by his coalition partner PPP, with PML-N also supporting the move. **

After his ouster, PPP’s secretary general, Faisal Rathore, became the new prime minister. What unfolds in this video is not a spontaneous display of public happiness. It is a carefully arranged performance. **

The minister arrives under full protocol. A police vehicle leads the convoy, followed by the second vehicle, and then the third vehicle carrying the minister. **

As soon as the third vehicle stops, he steps out. A small group of supporters immediately approaches him and places a garland around his neck, attempting to create the illusion of a popular welcome. **

But the crowd is limited and controlled. These are either loyal PPP activists or individuals asked — or pressured — to attend. Even the pipes and drums playing in the background are rented, brought in solely to manufacture a festive look. **

For years, no such dramatic reception was ever staged for this minister. But now, right after PPP has assumed power, this carefully choreographed scene is being used to suggest that people are thrilled with the new government. **

In reality, this government is only two weeks old. The PPP has also been part of the previous coalition government, but it did not deliver anything substantial that would warrant genuine public celebration. **

This is political theatre — a manufactured show powered by protocol vehicles, rented instruments, and a handful of loyal supporters — all designed to project the illusion that PPP enjoys strong and enthusiastic support in Mirpur. **

@BBhuttoZardari @MediaCellPPP @AseefaBZ @Sherry **

Please unroll @UnrollHelper **

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh

** ** Keep Current with Ali Jan **

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

** ** This Thread may be Removed Anytime!**

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

More from @JanAli2022

Nov 27

Pakistan-Administered Kashmir’s Outgoing PM Walks Away with Perks While People in Indian-Administered Kashmir Pay the Price The outgoing Prime Minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir left office with a 2,800cc Fortuner, accompanied by five police officers for protection.

2 He is also entitled to a Grade-16 assistant, 400 liters of petrol per month, 50,000 rupees for house rent, and free lodging in all government guest houses and circuit houses across Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Pakistan.

3 These benefits are guaranteed regardless of how he leaves office—whether he completes his five-year term, is removed by a no-confidence motion, resigns, or is unable to perform his duties. In every scenario, he walks away with the entire range of benefits,

Read 12 tweets

Nov 24

One Billion Rupees Wasted in Just Five Years: Pakistan Must Intervene to Shut Down so called Kashmir Cause Department, Jammu Kashmir Liberarion Cell (JKLC) ,and Kashmir Policy Research Institute (KPPRI) n Pakistan-Administered Kashmir Exploiting Indian-Administered Kashmiris

The Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Cell (JKLC), operating under the “Kashmir Cause, Arts & Languages” department of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, was created in the 1980s to promote what successive governments claimed as the Kashmir cause at the international level.

3 In reality, these governments cloaked their own interests under the guise of championing Kashmir, disregarding the existence, suffering, and needs of the population in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Read 50 tweets

Nov 22

The Humble Journey of the People’s Prime Minister — A Region Where the ‘Kashmir Cause’ Somehow Means Convoys, Protocols, and Political Theatre The Prime Minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir finally visited his hometown Haveli — for the first time since becoming PM.

2. And, true to his trademark humility, he travelled with the quiet modesty of a saint: A small motorcade of only forty vehicles. Just forty — barely enough to cover a two-kilometre stretch of road. The video shows a single policeman standing on an empty mountain road,

3 like a misplaced character waiting for his cue. But the reality is far bigger than the frame. Bec around 50 policemen were actually deployed — from Lasdana all the way to Palangi, his native village — standing the entire day, waiting for the royal caravan to glide by.

Read 13 tweets

Nov 19

It is both irresponsible & unethical,as well as contrary to established journalistic principles, to provide a platform to the narrative promoted by certain politicians from Pakistan-administered Kashmir—particularly the claim that the region serves as a “base camp”

2 for the Kashmir"freedom movement." This narrative not only lacks any factual basis, but it also directly exacerbates the miseries faced by the people of Indian-administered Kashmir. The so-called idea of a “base camp” is not grounded in reality

3 but rather serves as a political slogan with no connection to the true situation on the ground. The very notion of being a “base camp” implies that the suffering, bloodshed, and death endured by the people of Indian-administered Kashmir should be allowed to continue,

Read 28 tweets

Nov 19

The Government of Pakistan should provide grants for Azad Kashmir, but these grants should not be given to the self-appointed “Azad Government of the State of Jammu & Kashmir.” Moreover, any grant that is given must be properly audited.

2. Since 2005, the Government of Pakistan has given approximately Rs.350 billion in development grants to the self-appointed Azad Government of the State of Jammu & Kashmir. Out of this, only 3 billion rupees were actually spent on Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan,

3. while merely 40 million rupees were used for the 20 Kashmiri refugee camp in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The remaining 346.96 billion rupees were spent across various districts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with the largest shares going to Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur.

Read 12 tweets

Nov 18

An Administration Built on Blood: Exploiting the Suffering of People in Indian-Administered Kashmir Pakistan-administered Kashmir’s political elite routinely make the false claim that their region serves as a “base camp” for the “freedom struggle.”

2. This rhetoric is political, designed to mislead people in Indian-administered Kashmir into risking their lives—while the politicians themselves enjoy a lavish lifestyle funded by Pakistani taxpayers. In this way, they exploit both Kashmiris and Pakistani citizens,

cloaking their interests under the guise of a “freedom struggle,”For the past 78 years, they’ve created the false impression that they would prevent the division of Kashmir, yet the region has remained divided throughout this period, & they’ve made no effort to reunite it.

Read 14 tweets