Thread by @JanAli2022

Bilawal Bhutto’s Protocol Brigade and the Rented Pipes-and-Drums Show in Pakistan-administered Kashmir’s City Mirpur
In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Bilawal Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party has introduced a novel way of governance:

protocol vehicles escort the minister, rented pipes & drums play festive music,& supporters place garlands around his neck.This is aimed to create the illusion of popular enthusiasm and strong public support, even though the government has not yet achieved anything substantial.

This scene is from Mirpur city in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The man arriving in the cavalcade is a long-serving local minister who has held his position for more than four years. Until recently, Pakistan-administered Kashmir was governed by a three-party coalition:

the PTI forward bloc, PPP, and PML-N. The prime minister who led this coalition — who himself belonged to the PTI forward bloc — was removed through a no-confidence motion brought against him by his coalition partner PPP, with PML-N also supporting the move.

After his ouster, PPP’s secretary general, Faisal Rathore, became the new prime minister.
What unfolds in this video is not a spontaneous display of public happiness. It is a carefully arranged performance.

The minister arrives under full protocol. A police vehicle leads the convoy, followed by the second vehicle, and then the third vehicle carrying the minister.

As soon as the third vehicle stops, he steps out. A small group of supporters immediately approaches him and places a garland around his neck, attempting to create the illusion of a popular welcome.

But the crowd is limited and controlled. These are either loyal PPP activists or individuals asked — or pressured — to attend. Even the pipes and drums playing in the background are rented, brought in solely to manufacture a festive look.

For years, no such dramatic reception was ever staged for this minister. But now, right after PPP has assumed power, this carefully choreographed scene is being used to suggest that people are thrilled with the new government.

In reality, this government is only two weeks old. The PPP has also been part of the previous coalition government, but it did not deliver anything substantial that would warrant genuine public celebration.

This is political theatre — a manufactured show powered by protocol vehicles, rented instruments, and a handful of loyal supporters — all designed to project the illusion that PPP enjoys strong and enthusiastic support in Mirpur.

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