ISLAMABAD: While Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has been facing severe criticism on social media after its government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received a donation of vehicles from US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome, party’s mainstream leader Shireen Mazari criticised Blome’s visit to sensitive areas of the country, branding the envoy “viceroy”.

“US envoy & his gang flying over sensitive areas of Pak on way to Torkham & surveying lay of land + official briefing & red carpet! Areas ordinary Pak citizens cant go! Blome Viceroy in all but name & arrogance writ large? One more US regime change conspiracy agenda item fulfilled!,” she tweeted early on Sunday while posting photos showing the ambassador in a helicopter on route to Torkham border and being briefed by security officers.

Also, the ex-minister responded to photos being shared on Twitter showing the US envoy with KP Health Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra at a function of the USAID for handing over of 36 vehicles to the KP government. Photos of the event had gone viral on social media after the KP minister, who was chairing the meeting, vacated his seat for the US Ambassador.

The PTI leader said those sharing such pictures did not realise that government-to-government socioeconomic programmes were done through agreements and were the “norm”.

However, she pointed out that an envoy going to sensitive areas and being provided access was a security issue. “So is there a security agreement now in place with [the] US? We should know if there is,” she questioned.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2022