PTI, PML-N members spar on Indian TV

KARACHI: A debate on India’s controversial Republic TV devolved into a shouting match as the PTI’s Abdul Samad Yaqoob and PML-N’s Uzma Kardar traded insults and political accusations at each other, while host Arnab Goswami stoked tensions by making provocative claims against Pakistan’s political and military leadership.

In an appearance on ‘Debate with Arnab’, Abdul Samad Yaqoob of the PTI and MPA Uzma Kardar of the PML-N indulged in an open and unabashed display of political barbs verging on a shouting match.

Arnab Goswami, known for his provocative style of hosting as well as for leading the charge against Pakistan on Indian TV, asked Kardar a question regarding Nawaz Sharif allegedly asking Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif not to “escalate the situation with India” and then quoted the PTI’s Yaqoob as having said that he had “seen what the Pakistan Army had done to Pakistan”.

Goswami’s rant on his show — all the while as his guests looked on — continued with him accusing PML-N politicians of claiming they were intelligence stooges.

Responding to Goswami, Kardar said that Abdul Samad Yaqoob had gone “bonkers”, and was a supporter of a man “who for more than three years kept saying ‘I am on one page with the establishment’.

”At this point, Yaqoob chimed in by calling Kardar an intelligence tout. With Kardar and Yaqoob at each other’s throats, Goswami took the moment to say: “Look at what’s happening inside Pakistan... these people are going to fight us!” Yaqoob and Kardar continued regardless.

This is when Yaqoob descended to personal attacks on Kardar, calling her unworthy, age-shaming her, and calling her and her party establishment sycophants. As Kardar continued to speak about Pakistan responding to India, Yaqoob asked her to “shut up”, all the while mocking her stance on Pakistan militarily defending itself and then alluding to Gen Tikka Niazi.