Pakistan, which is constantly facing criticism at the global level due to its policies, made a big diplomatic blunder on Thursday. It has come to light that the security personnel present at the entry gate of PM Shahbaz Sharif’s residence asked the German minister for her handbag. Citing security reasons, the security personnel asked her to leave her bag and go to meet the PM.
Due to this diplomatic blunder, PM Shahbaz Sharif’s meeting with Germany’s Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze was almost about to be cancelled, but at the last moment the security personnel allowed him to take the bag with him. The video of this diplomatic mistake is viral on social media, on which users are making different comments.
What happened?
According to the information, Germany’s Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze had arrived to meet Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday, but during this time an unexpected incident happened with her. Actually, at the entry gate of the Prime Minister’s House, the security guards asked Schulze to hand over her handbag for checking, she was asked to leave this bag and meet the PM. On this, Schulze refused to hand over the bag and turned back and started walking towards her car. In this way, before a major diplomatic meeting was suddenly cancelled, she got permission to take her handbag with her.
Islamabad: When Development Minister Schulze arrives for her appointment with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif, his security guards demand that she hand over her handbag.
Schulze turns around and walks back towards the car.
Suddenly the handbag is allowed in. pic.twitter.com/tFiSBL73qz
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— Andreas Kynast (@andikynast) August 21, 2024
Video viral on social media
The incident quickly went viral on social media, with people questioning Pakistan’s hospitality towards foreign dignitaries. People expressed their displeasure and criticism over the treatment meted out to Schulze. Many said that if Schulze had decided to return, it could have had a negative impact on Pakistan’s ongoing economic negotiations.
Users are criticizing Pakistan
One social media user mocked the situation, saying, “If Schulze had returned, Pakistan’s begging bowl would have remained empty.” Another commented on the power balance, saying, “They tried to demonstrate their strength and authority, but Schulze showed them that they are irrelevant to him. If they don’t play by his rules, the game doesn’t happen. So they had to bow down, their display of power backfired and they had to be embarrassed.”
The incident has cast a pall over a diplomatic visit that was meant to strengthen cooperation between Germany and Pakistan. It has raised questions about the treatment of foreign dignitaries by Pakistani authorities.
Shahbaz Sharif welcomes German minister
However, after the lapse was rectified, the German minister met the PM, in which PM Shahbaz Sharif appreciated Germany’s long-standing support to Pakistan’s socio-economic development. According to a press release issued by the Press Information Department (PID), the Prime Minister praised the mutually beneficial commercial and economic relations between Pakistan and Germany and underlined Germany’s important role in Pakistan’s industrial development.
Role of Germany in the industrial development of Pakistan
The Prime Minister on this occasion expressed Pakistan’s strong desire to revive Pakistan-Germany partnership to its glorious past. He also emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to sustainable development, climate change mitigation and economic growth and shared the structural reforms being undertaken for economic revival as priorities of his government.
This important meeting was attended by senior officials of both the countries, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Minister of Planning, Minister of Economic Affairs, Minister of Commerce and Minister of State for IT.