By Irum Saleem
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was on a two-day official visit to Belarus this week.
During the trip, several important agreements were signed between Pakistan and Belarus, but the visit has sparked discussion not because of these agreements but for entirely different reasons.
In fact, several members of the Prime Minister’s family accompanied him on this official visit, and a video of the trip has gone viral on social media.
یہ وہ سالار کاکڑ نہیں جو ہمیں مطلوب ہے، تحریک انصاف کے سالار کاکڑ کو کئی ماہ ناحق قید رکھنے کے بعد پولیس کا مضحکہ خیز اعتراف۔ بھینس بھاگتے ہوئے بولی،پولیس ہاتھی پکڑنے آئی ہے۔ کوئی بولا،مگر تم تو بھینس ہو۔ بھینس بولی، یہ پاکستان ہے جہاں پکڑی گئ تو 20 سال ثابت کرنے میں لگ سکتے ہیں…
— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi6) April 12, 2025
BBC writes in the video, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is seen meeting with Shehbaz Sharif’s entire family.
Social media users in Pakistan have reacted to the clip in a variety of ways.
Shehbaz Sharif in Belarus
During his two-day official visit to Belarus, Shehbaz Sharif appeared to have brought almost his entire family along.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and current Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz, her brother, and her daughter were all present on the trip.
The viral video shows President Lukashenko meeting with all of them.
Some members of Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet also accompanied him, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, and Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi.
The Viral Video
The video begins with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif warmly embracing President Lukashenko.
During the embrace, Nawaz Sharif says, “My dear friend, I’m very happy to see you. I’m glad to be back here.”
Following this, President Lukashenko is seen meeting Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.
Maryam introduces her brother to Lukashenko, while Nawaz Sharif adds, “This is my younger son.”
Maryam then introduces her daughter to the Belarusian President, saying, “This is my daughter.”
At one point, Nawaz Sharif tells President Lukashenko, “This is the first country where all of us have gathered together.”
Criticism on Social Media
Social media users have dubbed the Prime Minister’s official trip to Belarus a “family visit.”
Pakistani journalist Aleena Shigri shared the viral video and wrote, “Nawaz Sharif meets the President of Belarus alongside his political heirs… A scene that has led many to question the diplomatic value and purpose of this visit.”
She further added, “Family Limited Government.”
Opposition parties have also criticized the visit.
PTI member Aram Jafri shared the video of the Sharif family meeting the Belarusian President and sarcastically wrote:
“This is me, this is my brother, this is my daughter’s uncle, this is my daughter, and standing in the back is my daughter’s brother.”
She continued mockingly:
“This is my son, this is my daughter’s daughter, this is my granddaughter — and we are on an official visit to Belarus.” PAK DESTINY
