Shireen Mazari defends FM Qureshi’s CNN interview

ISLAMABAD: Federal Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari has put her weight behind Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi who came under fire from a section of US media over his interview with CNN.

In a chat with CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga, the foreign minister said that the international media was influenced by Israel.

Qureshi was accused of making anti-Semitic remarks by the anchor and other people on TV.

“I had planned to speak with Pakistan’s foreign minister about paths towards a peaceful resolution between Israel and Hamas. Instead, he began the interview by invoking an anti-Semitic slur,” the CNN anchor tweeted.

The ruling PTI condemned the tweet and defended Qureshi’s remarks.

Taking to Twitter, Shireen Mazari tweeted: “Time to reject and counter this false narrative. Enough is enough. We cannot be bullied or blackmailed by such narratives bec we don’t bear the burden of the history the West is trying to shift on our shoulders.”

“Ridicule Islam & our Prophet PBUH & spread Islamophobia by claiming it as “freedom of speech”; when we highlight Israelis “deep pockets” & influence over western media & govts, it gets labelled “anti Semitic”! Massacre Palestinians & claim it’s right of self defence.”

Ridicule Islam & our Prophet PBUH & spread Islamophobia by claiming it as "freedom of speech"; when we highlight Israelis "deep pockets" & influence over western media & govts, it gets labelled "anti Semitic"! Massacre Palestinians & claim it's right of self defence.

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 21, 2021