Pak PM Congratulates Trump on Banned X, Faces Criticism

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Trump on X, which is banned in Pakistan.
He used a VPN to post, drawing social media criticism.
Sharif’s post led to accusations of hypocrisy on social media.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office called the US an “old friend.”
Pakistan stated that US elections won’t impact its ties with China.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif Congratulates Trump on Banned X Platform

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used the social media platform X, which is banned in Pakistan, to congratulate US President-elect Donald Trump on his recent victory. His use of X, reportedly via VPN, sparked online criticism as social media users accused him of hypocrisy. A community note on his post highlighted that he accessed X through VPN to post the congratulatory message.

Earlier this year, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced a ban on X, citing national security concerns. Tarar mentioned that terrorist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) were using X to promote anti-national activities. Nevertheless, PM Sharif’s post without lifting the ban attracted backlash from the social media community.

Sharif Faces Criticism

Following the post, Twitter users accused Shehbaz Sharif of hypocrisy. One user commented, “If hypocrisy had a human face, it would be Shehbaz Sharif.” Another user tagged Elon Musk and noted, “Trump, this guy used a VPN to congratulate you.”

Pakistan’s Statements on US and China Relations

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the US and Pakistan are “old friends.” She emphasized that a second Trump term wouldn’t impact Pakistan’s strategic relationship with China. Baloch described Pakistan’s ties with China as “all-weather, strategic, and a stabilizing force” in the country’s foreign policy. She affirmed that global developments would not affect Pakistan-China relations.