From the depths of my heart, I am deeply grateful to Dr. Shahbaz Gill. He recently posted a message condemning me on Twitter, now called X. By 10 AM on Tuesday morning, just before I began writing this column, his message had been viewed by 163,000 people. Nearly 3,500 people had liked it, and over 1,500 had reposted it. For this insignificant journalist, who has lived in isolation for quite some time, such attention was truly unprecedented.

During Imran Khan’s government, Dr. Gill was considered a prominent leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). When Khan’s government was ousted via a no-confidence vote, Gill was arrested. Those who detained him treated him as governments in our country often treat their critics. During Imran Khan’s tenure, for instance, Rana Sanaullah was arrested on the motorway connecting Faisalabad to Lahore with a shocking quantity of heroin allegedly found in his car. To torment him further, sugar was thrown on the ground during his interrogation so that crawling insects would gnaw at his body.

While Gill has hinted at the treatment he endured, his vague accounts suggest he was subjected to severe physical and possibly sexual torture. Detailing these allegations in print is inappropriate, but Gill ended up in the hospital as a result of his “night of separation,” as Faiz Ahmed Faiz might describe it. Before appearing in court, he seemed so frail that he desperately sought oxygen to breathe. Eventually, the courts intervened, and Gill was released on bail. Afterward, he left Pakistan and moved to Chicago, USA.

By God’s grace, he now resides there safely and even runs a YouTube channel where he aggressively critiques his opponents in his signature Punjabi style. He has targeted me on one or two occasions, too. Like many PTI supporters, Gill initially assumed that perhaps alcohol had clouded my judgment. But, being naturally intelligent and sharp, he eventually realized that criticizing me wouldn’t generate traction, so he turned his attention toward more prominent figures.

However, on Monday night, I somehow drew his ire once again, compelling me to confess my supposed “sin.”

Since July last year, I have been co-hosting a TV show with a young journalist, Adnan Haider, where we discuss current affairs. I am not concerned about ratings; my focus is to analyze political developments, their causes, and possible outcomes.

When discussing Pakistani politics, it’s impossible to ignore the United States, where a significant number of Imran Khan’s fervent supporters wield considerable influence. Their lobbying efforts even led to the U.S. Congress passing a resolution calling for Imran Khan’s release. Yet, Khan’s troubles persist.

In November 2024, Donald Trump was re-elected as U.S. President with a substantial majority. PTI supporters in America are now convinced that once in office, Trump will somehow ensure Khan’s release. I have no intention of debating whether Trump genuinely considers Imran Khan a friend or is concerned about his imprisonment.

However, PTI’s U.S.-based leader Sajjad Burki reportedly met Trump at his Florida residence. As a journalist, I came to know about this meeting and mentioned it on my show. Later, on November 26, Burki addressed PTI supporters in Washington, confirming the meeting and expressing optimism about its “positive outcomes.”

My sources in Washington, who informed me of the Burki-Trump meeting, now insist that Tulsi Gabbard is likely to be the most active advocate for Khan’s release. Gabbard has been nominated by Trump to serve as the Director of National Intelligence. On Monday evening, I mentioned this on-air, saying, “My sources claim that Tulsi’s heart…” desires Khan’s release. At this, my co-anchor Adnan Haider insinuated that I was implying a “friendship” between Khan and Gabbard.

In our culture, the concept of “friendship” between a man and a woman is often understood in a particular context. I firmly corrected Adnan, clarifying that Gabbard might use her influence to help Khan. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I couldn’t fully elaborate before the show ended.

After the show, the clip about Tulsi reached Dr. Gill, who erupted in anger, accusing me of alleging that Gabbard was in love with Khan. Dr. Gill is a highly educated man, but even I, an uneducated journalist, know that Gabbard is a devout Hindu who had her second wedding performed according to Vishnuite traditions. She likely wears a mangalsutra as well.

Even if she weren’t deeply religious, I would refrain from making such accusations. However, Gill, being a straightforward man, is unfamiliar with Urdu idioms. He might have assumed that Gabbard would read his tweet, become Gill’s ally, and order an investigation into this insignificant Pakistani reporter.

Dr. Gill, I honestly do not consider myself exceptional in any way. Tulsi Gabbard, I reiterate, is a staunch Hindu who has criticized Pakistan’s military for allegedly mistreating Hindus in Bangladesh. At one point, she was an admirer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, even visiting Syria to praise his fight against ISIS, which she considers a significant modern threat.

Gabbard will remain unaffected by my comments on a Pakistani TV channel. Still, I thank Dr. Gill for his earnest efforts to make me famous. May God bless him. However, I do not need a U.S. visa. I last visited in 2016 on a five-year visa but returned after spending just three days in New York. I am not interested in invitations from the U.S. embassy either. So, it would be kind of Dr. Gill to stop making unnecessary attempts to make me relevant.

Note: This is the translation of his Urdu column published in Daily Nawa-i-Waqt.