President Arif Alvi left for Turkey from Islamabad airport on a three-day visit on Sunday. However, he has faced criticism for VIP protocol at the airport as a security entourage followed him during his departure, and cameramen filmed him at the security clearance.
Former interior minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal mocked the unnecessary publicity by saying: “Naya Pakistan – by camera, of camera and for camera.”
Naya Pakistan – by camera, of camera and for camera. https://t.co/zQjIX1v0Yj
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) October 29, 2018
Journalist and media consultant Omar Quraishi tweeted: What’s the point of a VVIP acting like an ordinary person in a public place if you don’t film it all and show everyone that he’s acting like an ordinary person?
What’s the point of a VVIP acting like an ordinary person in a public place if you don’t film it all and show everyone that he’s acting like an ordinary person pic.twitter.com/uefY95wDvk
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) October 29, 2018
“Sadr-e-Pakistan Turkey kay dauray say qabal Islamabad airport pay aam musafiron ki tarah nazar aatay huaye. (Please ignore his security and protocol entourage),” he added.
Sadr-e-Pakistan Turkey kay dauray say qabal Islamabad airport pay aam musafiron ki tarah nazar aatay huaye
(Please ignore his security and protocol entourage) pic.twitter.com/F7fMnfhg4k
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) October 29, 2018
Another user wrote: “Hmmm. And I can see many ‘ordinary passengers’ in suits guarding our president in nearly every frame.”
Hmmm. And i can see many “ordinary passengers in suits “ guarding our president in nearly every frame pic.twitter.com/S0VTVzZmzi
— Khurram (@Siddiqi__) October 29, 2018
A user, Samar Nadeem wrote she felt incredulous that a traveller was being filmed at every step of the check-in process.
You mean a traveler being filmed at every step during the check-in process? Yeah me too.
— Samar Nadeem (@Satan____Claus) October 28, 2018
Pakistan Media Watch wrote: “President of Pakistan running his own publicity campaign through dedicated media team. After being criticised for going around with VIP security entourage, here he is trying to show he went through security without protocol but media team failed to edit out large entourage.”
President of Pak @ArifAlvi running his own publicity campaign through dedicated media team. After being criticised 4 going around with VIP security entourage, here he’s trying to show he went through security without protocol but media team failed to edit out large entourage pic.twitter.com/ATdldaHcvv
— Pakistan Media Watch (@PakPressWatch) October 29, 2018
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s son Haider Abbasi wrote: “This is just embarrassing. Orchestrated and shameless self-promotion.”
This is just embarrassing. Orchestrated and shameless self-promotion. https://t.co/86JQVOI3Df
— Haider K Abbasi (@HaiderKAbbasi) October 28, 2018
However, some users thought that the president’s security cannot be compromised on.
“These are security protocols for the President and PM, and standard practice. Even if they don’t want it, security will still do its job.”
These are security protocols for the President and PM, and standard practice. Even if they don’t want it, security will still do its job.
— Richard Harris (@HarrisRichard77) October 29, 2018
A user wrote that this display of austerity by a top office-bearer was “morale-boosting for an ordinary person”.
It is morale boosting for an ordinary person
— Tahir Abbasi (@tahirabbasi71) October 29, 2018
