Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement that he will ‘show’ the Modi government ‘how to treat minorities’ has evoked strong reactions across the spectrum. While actor Naseeruddin Shah – whose comments Khan was responding to – and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi have both rebuked the Pak PM, it was also met with vehement protests from the Muslim community in India.

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At Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, a group of people from Muslim community not only slammed Pakistan PM but also shouted anti-Pakistan slogans. 

The protesters, from Raza Academy, Mumbai, blamed the Pakistan government for their maltreatment of Muslims of the Sufi sect and claimed that 500 Muslims were kept captive. The protesters held placards saying ‘Pakistan Murdabad’ and slammed the regime for oppressing minorities in their backyard.

Raza Academy's spokesperson, Abdurrahman Ziyani, urged Imran Khan to first provide justice to the minority community in his country. Abdurrahman said that the circumstances of the minority in Pakistan are worse and rather than giving justice to them, Imran Khan is defaming India, which will not be tolerated.

It must be noted that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has a chequered record when it comes to dealing with minorities. While the Christian community cowers in fear, with even an acquitted ‘blasphemer’ forced to stay in custody, Ahmadis don’t even have legal status in the country.

The Imran Khan government, when it came to power was forced to rescind an offer to noted economist Atif Mian, a Princeton University Professor who was to be part of the Pak PM’s economic council.

Khan had reacted to comments made by Naseeruddin Shah about the violence in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh that left a police officer dead.

The veteran actor finds himself at the centre of a major controversy over his remarks on the spate of mob lynching cases in India following the killing of a policeman in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district earlier this month. However, Imran Khan’s jibe hasn’t gone down well with Indian citizens from across the political spectrum.

Reacting to Imran Khan's statement,  AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi reiterated that India didn’t need to learn about ‘inclusiveness’ from Pakistan. He wrote: “According to the Pakistani Constitution, only a Muslim is qualified to be President. India has seen multiple Presidents from oppressed communities. It's high time Khan sahab learns something from us about inclusive politics & minority rights.”

Rebuking Khan, the Naseeruddin Shah said: “I think Mr Khan should be walking the talk in his own country instead of commenting on issues that don’t concern him. We have been a democracy for 70 years and we know how to look after ourselves.” Shah finds himself at the centre of a major controversy over his remarks on the spate of mob lynching cases in India following the killing of a policeman in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district earlier this month.