‘Beggars Can’t Be…’: Pakistan's Peace Broker Tag Lies On Shaky Iran Truce - Throwback Viral

A resurfaced video of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is going viral on social media, drawing renewed attention amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. The clip, from an earlier television appearance, shows Sharif responding to a question about Pakistan’s global standing, where he remarks, “Beggars can’t be choosers.” The video resurfaced online after the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire between the US and Iran was derailed within hours, followed by trolling as Pakistan’s “peace broker” tag failed.In the clip, an interviewer references remarks attributed to Khawaja Asif and questions Pakistan’s dependence on the United States. The interviewer says, “Khawaja Asif sahab ne kaha hum toh America ke bagair reh hi nahi sakte, woh toh ventilator hai

hamara. Hum toh ghutnon par aa jayenge agar America ne koi kadam utha liya. Agar hum aise karenge toh barabari ki satah kaise banayenge?” (“Khawaja Asif said that we cannot survive without America, it is like a ventilator for us. We would be brought to our knees if America takes any step against us. If we continue like this, how will we ever achieve equality?”)Responding to this, Sharif states, “Dekhiye, beggars can’t be choosers, please understand that. Humein apni qaum ka pait paalna hai.” (“Look, beggars can’t be choosers, please understand that. We have to feed our people.”) The anchor’s visibly surprised reaction in the clip has also become a talking point among viewers.The video, widely shared on X, was captioned: “Throwback when Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif openly accepted that Pakistan is a beggar country and ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ on a live TV channel.” Online reactions to the clip have been mixed, with many users responding sarcastically. One user wrote, “Ceasefire karwa diya, true and honest PM.” Another pointed to the anchor’s reaction, commenting, “Look at the expression of the anchor.”

The video’s resurgence comes shortly after a ceasefire announcement between the United States and Iran on April 7, which proved to be short-lived. While taking to the social media platform Truth Social, Donald Trump announced the ceasefire and also mentioned Shehbaz Sharif. Sharif later shared a related message on X; however, it drew criticism after users noticed the phrase “Draft – Pakistan PM’s Message on X” in the post, suggesting it may have been a copy-pasted template rather than an original statement. Following this “blunder,” the internet went into meme mode.Further trolling followed as reports of renewed tensions emerged within hours of the ceasefire announcement, undermining Pakistan’s “global peacemaker” tag. Air raid sirens were heard across parts of the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, alongside missile interceptions. At the same time, Israel reportedly launched one of its most intense strikes on Lebanon in recent years, raising concerns over a broader escalation, which Iran also condemned.However, amid these developments, the United States and Iran have agreed to hold a diplomatic meeting at the Serena Hotel on April 11. The talks are being seen as an attempt to establish a more stable and lasting framework for de-escalation, though experts say the situation remains fragile.