Zulfikar Jr slams Pakistan's 'very little tangible support' for Palestinians

Artist and activist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr on Wednesday slammed Pakistan's response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying people in Palestine are dying of hunger and thirst in a man-made famine.

In a video message on Instagram, Bhutto expressed disappointment over what he described as the country’s “very little tangible support” for Palestinians despite the worsening situation there.

“People in Palestine are dying of hunger and thirst. This is a man-made famine,” he said, describing harrowing images of malnourished people. “We are seeing people who were once healthy, even bodybuilders, now reduced to skin and bones, they are all like the walking dead now.”

Bhutto, the grandson of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, said he has been closely following Palestinian voices on social media, particularly on TikTok, where people under siege share their daily struggles. The unfiltered, often silent clips, he said, are deeply affecting.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto ذوالفقار علي ڀٽو (@zulfikaralibhutto)

Bhutto criticised the government's lack of meaningful, on-the-ground action. “Aside from a few statements, Pakistan has provided very little tangible support to Palestine,” he lamented.

He also pointed to low public engagement, noting a recent pro-Gaza protest in Pakistan that saw sparse attendance. “No religious or civil society organisations showed up,” he said. “People here are bored and tired.”

Bhutto further raised concerns about a disconnect between Pakistanis and the Palestinian cause, particularly in how it is expressed. “Even the slogans we use are mostly in English or Arabic,” he said. “Very few are in Urdu.”

Read: Pakistan condemns desecration of Al‑Aqsa Mosque by Israeli minister, settlers

He argued that this linguistic gap reflects a deeper ideological silence, suggesting that Muslim countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain have abandoned Palestine diplomatically. “The people we label as kafir are the ones raising their voices for Palestine,” he added.

Bhutto claimed that the country's muted stance may be driven by a desire to normalise ties with Israel. “Our sarkar wants to recognise the sahiyooni riyasat (Zionist state),” he claimed.