Munna Bhai MBBS’: Meet Pakistani health minister who takes pride in insulting epithet

Believe it or not, Pakistan health minister Abdul Qadir Patel takes pride for being called ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’—a famous character played by Sanjay Dutt in the 2003 Bollywood film.

The Health Minister was responding to questions from reporters who reminded him of the criticism he has faced for not being a physician himself, Samaa TV reported.

Speaking at the Karachi Press Club, Patel said that he never said that he would perform surgeries or write prescriptions.

Patel said that when someone calls him ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’, he enjoys it.

“It is a wonderful film. He (the protagonist) heals everyone with his ‘jadoo ki jhappi’ (magical embrace),” he said.

“When did I say that I would perform surgeries or prescribe medicine to people? My job is to provide administrative supervision, to get things done in the right way,” Patel added, Samaa TV reported.

The health minister also said that he never objected to Pervez Khattak’s appointment as defence minister under the former PTI government — taking a dig at Khattak’s lean body shape.