George Fulton called out President Dr. Arif Alvi for giving into the existing V.I.P. culture, despite being an opponent of the same.
George Fulton is a British-Pakistani who initially came to Pakistan through BBC, but ended up acquiring a Pakistani citizenship years later. He has worked for numerous Pakistani news channels and is an all-around typical Pakistani living his life currently in Karachi with Pakistani wife Kiran. He was known for his show ‘George Ka Pakistan,’ but nowadays he can be found on Youtube creating content with Shaniera Akram for his channel called DesiGeorge.
George is no stranger to Pakistan and by no means is he a gora that is only “visiting”.
He has lived in Pakistan on and off for a very long time and has spent a majority of his professional life working on content around Pakistan, so if there was one person that could criticize the Pakistani culture from an outsider’s perspective it would be him.
George went on Twitter to rant about VIP Culture and called out President Dr. Alvi for practicing it. Watch the full video here:
A message for the President of Pakistan, Dr Alvi. @PresOfPakistan pic.twitter.com/BpqTygVg3c
— George Fulton (@GeorgeFulton1) June 15, 2019
He starts the video by saying he has a message for Dr. Alvi, who is an opponent of VIP Culture. Yet George was allegedly asked to move his car from the gym parking lot due to VIP movement by President Alvi.
In the video, he also mentions he is informed of this by a traffic policeman. He does not blame the traffic policeman, because he is just doing his job.
George then poses a very relevant question. He asks Dr. Alvi why he’s advocating moving against V.I.P. culture and yet, on the other hand, he’s allegedly practicing it himself?” He ends the video off by saying this is “pure, rank hypocrisy”.
This video has revisited the idea of V.I.P. culture and how it impacts the awaam in Pakistan.
Certain people in Pakistan are given special treatment when the law asks for equal treatment of all citizens. It has become the norm and a way of living for people that ask for this special treatment. In a way, it has become a symbol of status for people wanting to live in this manner, but many believe it has done a lot of harm indirectly to the people of Pakistan, being more than just a certain inconvenience.
People like Jibran Nasir have also spoken up against V.I.P. culture in the past.
He has demanded police officers to be taught more than how to deal with V.I.P. personnel. They should be taught how to behave and communicate with the average citizen of Pakistan and not drop everything to escort a V.I.P. traveling with a bunch of security already. The lives of Pakistani citizens are just as important and need security and safety as well.
Not interested in any apology from the Judge nor suspension of officers who beat me up. Poor men are a result of their training hence this should be a cause to end this VIP culture & demand reforms for training & sensitization of officers teaching them how to behave with citizens pic.twitter.com/V50NUu6lzC
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) July 3, 2018
Pakistanis have responded to George’s tweet and are standing in favor of his message.
Fully support you on this
— Dr Farhan K Virk (@FarhanKVirk) June 15, 2019
Dear, I fully support you.
— Zubair Alam (@ZUBAIRALAMPK) June 15, 2019
There are other Pakistanis that are trying to rationalize why this protocol was necessary.
To be fair he does try very hard to avoid it and each time protocol does it anyway. Perhaps the protocol security can be handled in a manner as to not inconvenience citizens. @ArifAlvi @DrAwab
— Mahbina (@MahbinaW) June 15, 2019
Others are claiming the chances of President Dr. Alvi setting up his own security and dictating protocol is slim.
You are right to say this & we understand your concern here. But sometimes President & pm had no hands on doing this because it comes under security agencies and they define protocols which PM & President has to follow with no choice. But protocol must not be with tons of cars
— Zeeshan Haider (@mails4shani) June 15, 2019
DR Arif Alvi doesn't sit there managing his security arrangements.. grow up!
— Nabeel (@nabeel_kiani) June 15, 2019
On the other hand, there are people criticizing George for calling out the President.
Even in England u can get close only Certain distances and have to follow procedures but in Pakistan 🇵🇰 u have issue with it just because it’s your car really I mean really !!!
— Zab43221 (@zab43221) June 15, 2019
George ka Pakistan is no more.
Its Naya (New) Pakistan George.
Feeling sorry for you.— عذاب آگہی (@Jahanzaib_Urdu) June 15, 2019
However, in a refreshing turn of events, the President called George and sorted the matter out.
An update. Thank you @ArifAlvi @PresOfPakistan for reaching out. Matter closed. 😀 pic.twitter.com/7BPTNwzmZ5
— George Fulton (@GeorgeFulton1) June 15, 2019
George received a call from Dr. Arif Alvi, who apologized for the whole scenario, stating that he was in Karachi due to an unfortunate death. George states that the matter is now closed. It’s pretty great that a politician took some responsibility for his actions, but the looming question mark around V.I.P culture remains.
This Medical Student From Karachi Got Thrashed By Police Officers, All Because Of Some VIP’s Protocol
Pakistanis Are Furious Over Jibran Nasir Being Detained For Refusing To Give Way To A Judge’s Protocol