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Tuesday January 28, 2025

PTI plans protests as ‘Bilawal invited to attend Trump’s inauguration’

It is unclear if invitation received by Bilawal to attend Trump's inauguration was the one officially issued to representatives of foreign govts

By Azeem M Mian
January 16, 2025
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari (left) and US President-elect Donald Trump. — AFP/Reuters/File
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari (left) and US President-elect Donald Trump. — AFP/Reuters/File 

NEW YORK: Following reports of an invitation received by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to attend the inauguration ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump, activities have intensified in Pakistani circles in Washington.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) circles in the US have begun planning protests on Bilawal’s arrival and during his stay. Some active PTI members in the US are approaching certain Republican senators and congressmen in their circles to obtain passes for attending Trump’s inauguration events. As a result, the possibility of confrontations between PTI supporters and Bilawal cannot be ruled out.

It is still unclear if the invitation received by Bilawal to attend Trump’s inauguration is the one officially issued to representatives of foreign governments, and whether he will be treated as a representative of a foreign government, despite not holding any position in the Pakistani government, or considered a guest of the sources that received the invitation.