Shehbaz Sharif uses VPN to congratulate Trump over Pakistan’s X ban, users scoff at irony

Last updated:Nov 09, 2024 10:51 AM IST

Shehbaz Sharif was quick to congratulate Trump on his victory, but users pointed out that he used VPN to use X, which is banned in Pakistan.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif became the subject of ridicule after a community note on his congratulatory post for US President-elect Donald Trump on X, which was banned in his country, highlighted that he used a VPN to use the platform.

“Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his historic victory for a second term! “I look forward to working closely with the new administration to further strengthen and expand the Pakistan-US partnership,” Sharif wrote on November 6 on X, formerly Twitter.

The community note noted that he was using a VPN, which is illegal in the country.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has banned X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan. He is using a VPN to access X, which is unlawful under Pakistani law,” the note said.

Why did Shehbaz Sharif use VPN?

Sharif was forced to use VPN because his own government banned X in Pakistan earlier this year on national security grounds. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had alleged that Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants were using the platform to spread “anti-national activities”.

The Pakistani prime minister came under severe trolling when he posted on X to congratulate Trump without lifting the platform’s ban. His move also met with criticism from the Pakistani population.

How did users react?

“The most corrupt and dictatorial puppet in the history of Pakistan congratulates Trump,” one user wrote.

“The Pakistani Prime Minister has been taken to the cleaners by his audience,” wrote another, sharing the community note under their X post.

“Mr. “Trump, this joker is using VPN to congratulate you… By the way, Elon Musk’s platform was banned in Pakistan!!!,” wrote another, tagging Elon Musk at the same time.

Location :

Islamabad, Pakistan