Pakistan has consistently presented itself as a farcical joke to the rest of the world and the latest episode has only served to solidify its status as an absurd banana republic. The incident is connected to the recent outcry from netizens against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for using X (previously Twitter) after banning the social media app in the country. Furthermore, they even raised questions on the legitimacy of the government and used the “Community Notes” feature to expose the incumbent administration.
Shehbaz Sharif on 18 July took on social media to wish President Joe Biden, who was just diagnosed with COVID-19, a swift and full recovery. However, the users didn’t take long to call him out through “Community Notes” accusing him of using X through VPN as the platform is banned in Pakistan. The Note said, “Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s PM, faces criticism for hypocrisy and corruption. Despite a government ban on X (formerly Twitter), he uses it via VPN, raising legal; questions. The February 20204 elections that brought him to power were marred by allegations of rigging and violence.”
X users including overseas Pakistanis also utilized Community Notes to globally humiliate the prime minister as he tweeted to “welcomed the Beijing Declaration on the agreement between leading Palestinian groups to unite and form an interim unity government.” They also brought up the power dynamics in the ‘Islamic Republic’ where the political government acts as a second fiddle to the iron-clad rule of the army which maintains absolute authority.
Another Community Notes read, “The so-called prime minister using VPN to tweet because his bosses in the military are not allowing him or anyone in the country to use Twitter and other social media. The same Twitter where even the military has an account deserted long ago.”
Netizens express their fury
In addition to “Community Notes,” the X users blasted Shehbaz Sharif and the country’s army and revealed their duplicity as they responded to the former’s tweets. An individual dubbed the prime minister as an “installed puppet of General Asim Munir” who is using the application after barring it in the country.
Twitter is banned in Pakistan, this installed puppet of General Asim Munir is using a VPN to use the very forum that he has banned for the citizens of Pakistan, shame would be a small word here @elonmusk
— Irfan (@ChNizamDeen) July 23, 2024
Another person remarked that Shehbaz Sharif is using a VPN to access X which he has banned in Pakistan and it undermines his “legitimacy in ways unimaginable.”
The fact that you use VPN to use a platform that you’ve banned… discredits your own legitimacy in ways unimaginable!
— Esma (@esmaa4048) July 23, 2024
“Zaman” expressed the same sentiment and termed Shehbaz Sharif “shameful and disgusting” for using X after banning the application in the country.
You banned the X in Pakistan, how are you commenting on this app maybe using VPN??? How shameful and disgusting you guys are …..
— Zaman (@xo0mi) July 18, 2024
“How was he using X as it was banned by his own government and its use was deemed illegal in the country,” a netizen questioned Shehbaz Sharif.
Who knows? And how you can wish him through @X, which is banned by your administration? It's use is illegal in Pakistan.
— Barister Sidra Qayyum (@Shr_9998) July 18, 2024
“Umar Saeed” commented that Shehbaz Sharif was using X after his government banned it in the country and added, “At least show some consideration for our respect if you don’t care about your own, fool.”
The Pakistani government has blocked twitter X, and the prime minister of the country is tweeting by using a VPN.
— Umar Saeed (@Umar_saeed4) July 18, 2024
Apna nahi ty sadi hi izzat da khayal krlo… Khotay https://t.co/U7sCPdPLE6
Pakistan blocks social media platform X
In April of this year, Pakistan’s interior ministry declared that the country had barred access to the social networking site X due to national security concerns, around the time of the election in February. The shutdown was brought up by the interior ministry in a written petition to the Islamabad High Court. A different court ordered the administration to reevaluate the prohibition in a week. However, the ministry claimed, “It is very pertinent to mention here that the failure of Twitter/X to adhere to the lawful directives of the government of Pakistan and address concerns regarding the misuse of its platform necessitated the imposition of a ban,” in the court.
It further added, “The decision to impose a ban on Twitter/X in Pakistan was made in the interest of upholding national security, maintaining public order, and preserving the integrity of our nation.” The ministry alleged that X had shown reluctance to address the problem. On the other hand, the latter responded that it was still collaborating with the Pakistani authorities to comprehend its worries, in a post.
According to the ministry report, Pakistan’s intelligence and security agencies’ classified reports were taken into consideration while deciding to temporarily block X. It claimed that “hostile elements operating on Twitter/X have nefarious intentions to create an environment of chaos and instability, with the ultimate goal of destabilising the country and plunging it into some form of anarchy.”
Notably, Imran Khan’s supporters and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers used the app as an important tool to mobilize, coordinate and organise massive protests in different parts of the country which often turned violent, against his removal from the office of prime minister, his incarceration and the general election result which they charged was stolen from them by army which is in cohorts with the other political parties.
The recent occurrence has once again exposed the feeble underpinning of Pakistan’s ‘democracy’ in which the prime minister brazenly flouts laws enacted by his own government and consistently degrades himself into a laughing stock with no consequences because he has the support of the army, who are actually in charge of the country.
