Shehbaz Sharif breaks Pak Govt’s rule; uses VPN to congratulate Donald Trump on X
In an act that’s got the internet buzzing, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, congratulated US President-elect Donald Trump for his decisive victory in the US elections—on X, the social media platform banned in Pakistan! In a classic case of “do as I say, not as I do,” Sharif managed to bypass his own government’s ban on the platform by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network), much to the amusement and mockery of online users.
Sharif’s tweet read: “I look forward to working closely with the incoming administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-US partnership,” showing he’s still eager to stay connected, even if it means “working around” his own country’s rules. The VPN access didn’t go unnoticed, with a community note pointing out the virtual diplomacy at play.
It’s worth remembering that earlier this year, Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, had proudly announced the ban on X, citing national security concerns. According to Tarar, terrorists from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) were allegedly using the platform to spread “anti-national activities.” Fast forward to Shehbaz Sharif sneaking into the platform through a VPN to give Trump a virtual handshake—hypocrisy, anyone?
The irony wasn’t lost on Twitter users. One pointed out, “If hypocrisy had a human face, it would be Shehbaz Sharif.” Another user tagged Elon Musk, cheekily saying, “Mr. Trump, this joker is using VPN to congratulate you… Btw, Elon Musk’s platform has been banned in Pakistan!!!”
Despite the digital drama, Pakistan’s Foreign Office did not seem to be bothered by the virtual controversy. Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated that the country’s long-standing relationship with the US would remain unaffected by Trump’s second term. “We look forward to further strengthening and broadening the Pakistan-US relationship in all fields,” she said.
Meanwhile, when asked about the effect of a second Trump presidency on Pakistan-China ties, Baloch was quick to assure that the “all-weather” relationship with Beijing would remain untouched. “This relationship has remained unaffected by developments around the world. So, we don’t need to worry about any domestic developments in another country,” she confidently remarked.
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