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Javed Akhtar took a dig at the Pakistani president’s reputation as “Mr 10 per cent”, a nickname associated with corruption allegations against him.
Javed Akhtar is seen.
Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari’s remarks about the country’s Hindu minority drew a sharp response from veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar, who accused the Pakistani leader of being “insensitive” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The exchange began after a video of Asif Ali Zardari’s speech during Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations surfaced on social media. Speaking about the country’s Hindu population, Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan and its Muslim majority “tolerate” the 3-4 per cent Hindu population.
In the video, Asif Ali Zardari referred to India’s position on “Akhand Bharat” and said, “The Indians have a different point of view. They have their own agenda in mind. They believe in Akhand Bharat. But there is a lot in between which they have forgotten.”
“We are Muslims. They are not. But we are Muslims of the mindset that we tolerate 3-4 per cent Hindu population in Pakistan,” he said.
Asif Ali Zardari further claimed that Hindus in Pakistan were “as free, as good as anywhere else they were” and said they would “rather be with us than be with them.”
Reacting to the remarks, Javed Akhtar took a dig at the Pakistani president’s reputation as “Mr 10 per cent”, a nickname associated with corruption allegations against him.
“Mr Zardari of Pakistan who had come into the limelight after Benazeer Bhutto had married says that they tolerate the 3-4 per cent Hindu population in their country. I understand Mr Zardari you have always being insensitive to all under the sun which is less than 10 per cent,” Javed Akhtar wrote on X.
The reference was to the “Mr 10 per cent” nickname that has long been associated with Asif Ali Zardari in Pakistan over allegations of taking commissions from government contracts.
This is not the first time Javed Akhtar has been vocal about Pakistan’s policies and its approach towards India. In May last year, at a book launch in Mumbai, he criticised Pakistan over cross-border terrorism and said India had made efforts to improve relations, including opening cultural channels with Pakistani artists.
Asif Ali Zardari is currently serving as Pakistan’s president, having taken oath as the country’s 14th president on March 10, 2024.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari stated that the country “tolerates” its Hindu minority, claiming they are as free as anywhere else and prefer to remain in Pakistan rather than move to India. He mentioned that Hindus constitute 4% of Pakistan’s population. However, reports indicate that Hindus in Pakistan face issues such as forced conversions, attacks, and discrimination. The 2023 census data shows Hindus make up 1.
Ask News18Delhi, India, India
August 16, 2026, 12:58 IST
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