CM Gandapur under fire for wearing 'Nike' amid boycott movement

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, has sparked outrage after wearing a Nike tracksuit during his online address, despite the ongoing boycott movement against the brand.

The controversy a few days after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a public rally in Lahore.

Gandapur was barred from addressing a charged public at Kahna in the provincial capital’s Ring Road area on Saturday.

A day later, the PTI firebrand leader released a video, which received flak from the netizens as Gandapur wore the boycotted brand's clothes in his online speech.

The boycott is in response to Nike's ownership by American companies, which have ties to Israel. 

مجھ سے معافی مانگنے والے پہلے عمران خان سے معافی مانگیں، معافی وہ مانگیں جنہوں نے ہم پر ظلم کیا۔ عمران خان کے گریبان پر ہاتھ ڈالا گیا اس کی معافی مانگی جائے، معافی شعافی نشتا، بھول جاؤ معافیاں، میں نے کوئی ایسا کام نہیں کیا جو معافی مانگوں، عمران خان کے ساتھ کھڑے ہیں اور جلد انکو… pic.twitter.com/Iwruo3Trnl

— Siasat.pk (@siasatpk) September 22, 2024

The connection has led to widespread condemnation across Islamic countries, including Pakistan, due to Israel's military offensives in Gaza.

Gandapur's decision to wear Nike has been criticised for ignoring the sentiments of those affected by Israel's actions and undermining the boycott movement.

By choosing to adorn Nike, Gandapur has drawn attention to the complex web of corporate connections and social responsibilities that come with public office.

Over 41,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, including 16,456 children and 11,000 women in Israeli military offensives in Gaza since October 7.

Almost 95,497 have been injured in Israel’s war on Gaza for eleven months.

The United Nations (UN) reported that two-thirds of buildings across the Gaza Strip have been "damaged or destroyed." Israeli attacks have also killed at least 270 aid workers.

The restrictions on food, water, medicine, and fuel supplies have exacerbated the situation in Gaza.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) directed Israel to ensure basic services and humanitarian aid delivery in the besieged enclave.

The Palestinian government's information office reported that almost 1.7 million Gazans have been displaced due to relentless air and artillery strikes by the Israeli military.

Thousands of children in Gaza have been diagnosed with malnutrition, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Earlier, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) head Cindy McCain said people in Gaza are starving to death.

The WFP estimated that around 1.1 million people are "struggling with catastrophic hunger and starvation" due to Israel's severe restrictions on food, water, medicine, and fuel supplies to the besieged enclave.