Luxury jet, bike escorts, helicopter rides and…: Anti-India Asim Munir to head for lavish Sri Lanka tour while Pakistan begs for money
The itinerary of Pakistan Army chief Filed Marshal Asim Munir reveals shocking details about his upcoming 'diplomatic' visit to Sri Lanka.
By Gazi Abbas Shahid
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Asim Munir (File)
Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is heading to neighboring Sri Lanka for a state visit from July 20–23, but his itinerary suggests that the trip is more of a luxury retreat for Pakistan's de-facto ruler than a diplomatic mission to the Island nation. Munir's lavish trip comes at a time when the Pakistan economy lies in complete ruin and Islamabad is literally begging global financial bodies for loans to keep the country running.
What does Asim Munir's Sri Lanka itinerary reveal?
Media reports citing Asim Munir's itinerary reveal shocking details about the Pakistan Army chief's visit to Sri Lanka. The Pakistani Field Marshal will fly to the Island nation in special luxury jet and is expected to stay at one of the most lavish five-star hotels in Colombo, a privilege which has been barred to Pakistani civilian politicians, including federal ministers, under the country's strict austerity measures.
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While in Sri Lanka, Asim Munir will be greeted by ceremonial motorcycle escorts, go on multiple helicopter rides over the famed famed Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Adam's Peak, and embark on opulent sightseeing tours of Colombo.
Notably, Pakistan's civilian government has barred cabinet ministers from foreign travel, banned prohibited luxury hotel stays, and frozen all non-essential spending. However, these austerity measures don't seemingly apply to Field Marshal Asim Munir, the country's shadow ruler.
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Pakistan economy in shambles
Its no secret that the Pakistan economy is in complete ruin, as common Pakistanis battle record inflation, rising poverty, and widespread unemployment. Islamabad's external debt has ballooned to over $133 billion, and nearly half of the country's federal budget is spent on paying back loans taken from various financial institutions and nations.
Thus, while the common folk are struggling to meet ends, and some even finding it difficult to arrange two square meals a day for their families, Pakistan's army strongman Asim Munir is shamelessly embarking on lavish tours of foreign nations on the back of hard-earned taxpayer money.
How Pakistanis responded to Munir's lavish escapades?
Though freedom of speech is a pipe dream in Pakistan and a single comment against the authorities, especially the Army, could land a citizen in prison or even worse, Asim Munir's lavish trips have been widely criticised by Pakistani social media users, with some calling it 'joyride on broken backs' and 'a mockery of national pain.'
This isn't the first time that Asim Munir has drawn the ire of Pakistani commoners for his hypocritical flaunting of elite privilege. Earlier, Pakistani social media erupted in fury after Munir was allegedly seen shopping at a luxury mall in the US before his lunch meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.
Critics of the Pakistani government, particularly the shadow Army regime have condemned the deepening rot witnessed in the country's governance, especially after the ouster of former premier Imran Khan, who is currently in prison on trumped up charges. Pakistani dissidents have termed Munir's foreign trips as decadence under the garb of diplomacy, noting that while the state preaches and imposes austerity measures on ordinary citizens, its army overlords are emptying the country's coffers with impunity.
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