Shahbaz Taseer, son of slain former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, decided to engage his followers on the government’s policy on drones, while also sharing his own opinion on their effectiveness. After spending four years in captivity, Taseer stated that he had some real experience with drones.
He started out with a tweet and went on to answer a host of questions by his followers.
Often wondered how plastic planes with motor powered engines can violate the airspace of a nuclear state
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) May 23, 2016
All these things make me think that or I’m crazy or someone likes being violated.
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) May 23, 2016
Taseer went on to add how drones were loud and never ‘randomly’ hit anything. “99.9% if not more is the accuracy of a drone. Always hits its intended target,” he added.
Drones are loud. They fly for hours. They never ‘randomly’ hit anything. They have ground Intel otherwise useless. And! They are not stealth
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) May 23, 2016
I won’t argue but 99.9% if not more is the accuracy of a drone. Always hits it’s intended target. https://t.co/jmSqBuUp9a
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) May 23, 2016
They never hit a wrong target in my 5 years.. Never. Only high level ppl as confirmed by militants I was with https://t.co/cCQeE5bUM5
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) May 23, 2016
A day before, US President Barack Obama confirmed Mansoor’s death in a US air strike, Pakistan’s foreign ministry disclosed that a passport found at the site, bearing a different name, carried a valid Iranian visa.
It added that the purported passport holder was believed to have returned to Pakistan from Iran on Saturday, the day of the drone strike targeting Mullah Mansoor. Photos of the passport, bearing the name Wali Muhammad, showed a passing resemblance to some of the old photos available of Mansoor.
Opening up about his captors once again, Shahbaz said, “My kidnappers were Uzbek with Pakistani ID cards. At least he looks local.”
My kidnappers were Uzbek with Pakistani ID cards. Atleast he looks local https://t.co/yOthjEibLb
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) May 23, 2016
I walked around Baluchistan without a passport and I got sun burnt. Which I guess is better than becoming a kebab https://t.co/j8jjKrSczD
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) May 23, 2016
That’s absolutely untrue. No ameer of any jamat travels with hired drivers. P https://t.co/XqSIUIMSek
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) May 23, 2016
Further, referring to the issue of whether or not Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was informed prior to the attack, Shahbaz, in a seemingly sarcastic tone said, “PM is aware of very little.. Generally.. Let’s not bother him with this.”
PM is aware of very little.. Generally.. Let’s not bother him with this #nooneDronedNehariVendors https://t.co/uuKIxN1wy2
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) May 23, 2016
When asked whether Shahbaz was in favour of killing the children of militants (something US presidential candidate Donald Trump has no qualms about), he said he wasn’t pro death but asked his followers to ask survivors and families of suicide blast victims about collateral damage.
I’m not pro death. But ask survivors and families of suicide blasts about collateral damage https://t.co/fB8Ck1522k
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) May 23, 2016
I walked around Baluchistan without a passport and I got sun burnt. Which I guess is better than becoming a kebab https://t.co/j8jjKrSczD
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) May 23, 2016
And this one just for our neighbours.
Hope the Indians don’t realize how easy it is to violate Pakistan’s airspace. Model town will be in trouble #DodgeADrone
— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer) May 23, 2016