Social media users have been left shocked and appalled after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson and former prime minister Imran Khan made some comments insinuating that dissenting PTI lawmakers had committed ‘shirk’ (polytheism).
He made these remarks during an address on Wednesday night, which was part of the ‘thanksgiving day’ being celebrated by the PTI in regards to the Supreme Court verdict on Tuesday that declared PTI-ally and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Parvez Elahi the chief minister of Punjab.
During the address, the party chief said, “When you sell your conscience because of greed over money, just like our people got bought off recently like sheep, that is also shirk.”
Social media users have been left perplexed at this stretched interpretation of Islam, as ‘shirk’ typically refers to associating others with Allah, and are questioning how going against the wishes of Imran Khan is considered shirk.
Not supporting Imran Khan is now shirk in Naya Pakistan…….. https://t.co/dcwP95ragx
— Shehzad Ghias Shaikh (@Shehzad89) July 27, 2022
Allah k wastay stop justifying the shirk statement. Nahi hay bhai aisa kuchh Islam mein. Khan ki muhabbat mein Khuda ko naraaz na karo if you really uphold the religion.
— نور (@mahnurrrrrrrr) July 28, 2022
Aah I was wondering at what point not supporting IK would become shirk…#ZameerGoBackToSleep https://t.co/hTLOByrZkt
— Maria Amir (@Beentherella) July 27, 2022
Others questioned if he was trying to start his own religion perhaps.
You guys were warned before that the more IK is kept out of power the more paranoid he is going to be. Now as per him betraying is him is Shirk. I think IK has elevated himself from Cult to God now, so negating him is shirk. Firqa e Imraniya next pic.twitter.com/z7Zm2BuNXV
— Asad Sultan (@AsadSultan18) July 28, 2022
New definition of Shirk just dropped by Alama Mufti Imran Khan.
He might just proclaim imamat next.
Firqa e Imraniya is ready to launch.#پنجاب_میں_ڈاکوراج pic.twitter.com/nWNLexsrsY— Maryam Bloach 🇵🇰 (نیوٹرل) (@bloachi_99pk) July 28, 2022
There are 3 kinds of Shirk in Islam:
1- Shirk Al-Akbar
2- Shirk Al-Asghar
3- Shirk Al-KhafiKhalifah Al-Maseeh @ImranKhanPTI just dropped a new one:
4- Shirk Al-Lifafa#DeeneImrani
— Shahab (@HashUrTag) July 27, 2022
Imran Khan is false imam of today’s times, who sometimes declares state of Medina,sometimes tidings of heaven,himself as companion of Prophets,not supporting PTI is equivalent to shirk to achieve his nefarious goals. Som intellectual blind people are trusting while it is a fraud. https://t.co/KEM6Fy2Znz
— ™عMubashar ع مبشر (@mubash_x3) July 28, 2022
Some people reiterated that using religion to obtain political goals is a terribly dangerous and irresponsible move.
Using religion to achieve your political goals is what’s wrong w this country’s politics. This is how fascism and extremism is proselytised. PERIOD#Imrankhan #shirk
— Huzaifah Sehgal (@HuzaifahSehgal) July 28, 2022
Can Imran Khan make any speech without resorting to moral policing, shirk allegations and using religion as a tool
— Hareem (@HinaandKiriyama) July 28, 2022
Other still just trolled along.
IK handing out shirk certificates like they are candy.
— Nida Kirmani (@NidaKirmani) July 28, 2022
Islamic touch Pro Max pic.twitter.com/TwHuleBamz
— Anaya Khan (@AnayaNKhan) July 27, 2022
If the Parliamentarians bought by PDM committed Shirk then are the MNAs/MPAs bought by PTI (Sharaqpuri etc) also guilty of #Shirk? #ایک_نیازی_سب_پہ_بھاری#عوام_کی_جیت pic.twitter.com/xr7ZGrfem2
— Hamza Azhar Salam (@HamzaAzhrSalam) July 27, 2022
If anything is Shirk it’s this 👇🏻@ImranKhanPTI Shame on U mushkrik🖐️#خاموش_انتظامیہ_ڈوبتا_بلوچستان pic.twitter.com/904plEdrXU
— Ayat 💕(backup) (@ayat_rizvii) July 28, 2022