Tag: social media

  • Imran Khan angry at PTI leaders for disowning controversial 1971 post: Asad Toor

    Imran Khan angry at PTI leaders for disowning controversial 1971 post: Asad Toor

    Journalist Asad Toor recently revealed on his YouTube channel that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan got angry at party leaders because they did not support PTI’s social media team over the controversial Fall of Dhaka post.

    “If you cannot fight, then leave the party,” exclaimed Khan to party members who visited him in Adiala Jail, Toor said.

    “You guys are not fighting but our social media team is, and nobody will disown them. Do not speak ill of them,” Imran reportedly told his party members.

    Earlier this week, Khan’s social media account uploaded a video regarding the 1971 Fall of Dhaka and drew a reference between Mujeeb ur Rehman and Imran Khan. It also called the military actions atrocities.

    PTI leaders scrambled to try and do some damage control by disassociating Imran Khan from the post, claiming he had no control over his social media.

  • PTI distances itself from Khan’s 1971 breakup of Pakistan post

    PTI distances itself from Khan’s 1971 breakup of Pakistan post

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan distanced the party from former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s controversial social media post on the 1971 civil war and the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report, saying the post should be seen in a “political context”.

    “The context and comparison that we drew with 1971 was in a political context and not otherwise — nothing about the army,” said Barrister Gohar in an interview with digital news outlet Azaad Urdu.

    On May 26, Imran Khan’s account on X shared a video about the separation of East Pakistan along with a quote attributed to him: “Every Pakistani should study the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report and get to know who was the true traitor, General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

    PTI Chairman said Khan was in prison and “does not approve every video or context”.

    In the video, it was argued that the people’s mandate was not respected and the former military dictator was the one responsible for the country’s breakup.

    The footage also showed the atrocities committed by the Pakistani military during the civil war when it conducted Operation Searchlight in 1971.

    The post garnered backlash from fellow political leaders. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman had said the post was “alarming” and the PTI was “continuously fueling the narrative of hatred and incitement” by comparing Imran to Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.

    Netizens also discovered an old tweet in which Imran Khan had disparagingly compared Nawaz Sharif to Mujib, a complete contradiction of his latest tweet.

  • IT ministry demands Rs20 billion to improve country’s cybersecurity, social media

    IT ministry demands Rs20 billion to improve country’s cybersecurity, social media

    The federal government has sought Rs20 billion for the next fiscal year to improve the country’s cybersecurity and manage social media. According to the proposal, the government will only allow social media platforms to operate if they establish local offices.

    The Ministry of Information Technology has demanded Rs20 billion for the Digital Information Infrastructure Initiative (DIII) in the 2024-25 fiscal year budget, according to government sources who spoke to The Express Tribune.

    The Express Tribune requested comments from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Information Technology, but they did not respond. Government sources also revealed that Rs15 billion has already been allocated as a technical supplementary grant to the information technology ministry for the current fiscal year.

    However, the total cost of the DIII project, which is equipped with Chinese technology, is Rs38 billion. The government is spending a significant amount this year, and the remaining amount has been requested for the next fiscal year.

  • Federal government begins consultations for establishment of social media regulatory authority

    Federal government begins consultations for establishment of social media regulatory authority

    The federal government has begun consultations for the establishment of a social media regulatory authority.

    According to sources, the proposed social media regulatory authority (PECA) Amendment Bill 2024 is to be tabled soon in the Parliament.

    Media houses and other stakeholders have also been invited for consultation to establish the authority of the committee.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reportedly formed a cabinet committee on this matter whose task is to consult the social media regulatory authority and give suggestions to the government on issues related to digital rights.

    The authority will ensure responsible use of the internet and compliance with regulations in addition to considering the issue of regulating online content and procedures for investigating violations of law on social media.

    The issue of summoning witnesses and violators of social media laws will also be considered in the consultation.

    The bill is intended to protect the private life of citizens from threats posed by social media.

  • Saudi crackdown on anti-Israel social media comments intensifies

    Saudi crackdown on anti-Israel social media comments intensifies

    In recent months, Saudi Arabian authorities have arrested a growing number of citizens for criticising Israel on social media.

    This surge in arrests comes amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has triggered widespread condemnation and protests across the Middle East.

    According to a report by Bloomberg, among those detained is a high-ranking executive involved in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s economic development initiatives, including the ambitious Vision 2030 project.

    Another detainee is reported to have urged Saudi citizens to boycott American brands operating in the Gulf Kingdom, while a third is a media figure who publicly stated that Israel should never be forgiven for its actions in Gaza.

    A source close to the Saudi government, who requested anonymity, stated that these arrests are driven by concerns about national security and the potential influence of pro-Iranian groups in Saudi Arabia.

    However, there are no official figures indicating how many individuals have been arrested since the Israeli offensive in Gaza began on October 7, 2023.

    The crackdown on dissent coincides with efforts by the United States to broker a deal for the normalisation of ties between Riyadh and Tel Aviv.

    During a recent visit to Saudi Arabia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that negotiations have brought both parties “potentially very close to completion.”

    However, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly emphasised that it will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel until an independent Palestinian state is recognised.

    Meanwhile, Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza has had devastating consequences.

    According to the Wafa news agency, more than 34,500 Palestinians have been killed and over 77,000 wounded since the start of the conflict.

    The United Nations reports that 85 per cent of Gaza’s population has been internally displaced due to the violence, and 60 per cent of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure has been severely damaged or destroyed.

    Critical shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies have compounded the humanitarian crisis.

    Israel has been accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In January, the World Court issued an interim ruling ordering Israel to halt genocidal acts and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilians.

    South Africa, which initiated the case against Israel, has since accused the country of disregarding the court’s ruling. Israel has denied all allegations against it.

    As tensions continue to rise, the arrest of Saudi citizens for criticising Israel reflects the broader geopolitical complexities in the region.

    The outcome of US-led negotiations and the humanitarian situation in Gaza will likely have significant implications for the future of Saudi-Israeli relations and the stability of the Middle East.

  • Maryam’s advice to critics on TikTok videos doesn’t sit well with social media

    Maryam’s advice to critics on TikTok videos doesn’t sit well with social media

    Responding to criticism for regularly posting her daily activities on social media, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz challenged her political opponents to come out of their “comfort zone” to work for the betterment of the country and let people make videos.

    One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote in a post that “Hum bahir nikaltay hain tou ap police peechay laga daiti hain.”

    Another user wrote on X that Maryam Nawaz gave “interesting” advice to political rivals.

    One social media user wrote on X that “TikTokers ka gham bahot achi tarah samajhti hain Maryam Nawaz”.

    Another user wrote in one post sarcastically that “Tik Toker ban’nay k leye Mehnat Karna parti hai, field main nikalna parta hai”.

    In one of the posts on X it was written that “All govt office holders come out of the air-conditioned rooms but they don’t flaunt branded suits and Gucci shoes and bags. So they go unnoticed.”

    A day earlier, on Wednesday, the chief minister said at an inauguration event in Lahore that people have continuously criticised her for her presence on TikTok and other social media platforms.

    She responded to the criticism, saying, “I also want these people to come out of their comfort zone […] come out of their air-conditioned rooms and do some work, so you would appear on TikTok videos and get eligible for media coverage too. You should also come out to serve the masses, but you have to leave your comfort zone.”

  • Aima Baig, Muhammad Shiraz meeting has social media saying awww

    Aima Baig, Muhammad Shiraz meeting has social media saying awww

    Aima Baig, a prominent female artist in the music industry, has showcased her talent across various platforms, from film soundtracks to live performances. She is a sought-after choice for events nationwide, known for her distinctive style and original songs.

    Meanwhile, Muhammad Shiraz has emerged as a rising star in Pakistan, captivating audiences with his charming vlogs and close connection to nature, as well as his bond with his sister Muskan. He regularly shares updates about his life with his followers.

    During a recent launch event, Aima Baig delivered yet another captivating performance, drawing the attention of attendees and fans alike. However, the unexpected highlight of the evening occurred when she crossed paths with Muhammad Shiraz, leading to a surprise encounter captured in a video.

    Here is the meet up:

    This unexpected meeting sparked a variety of reactions from the public, with many expressing their thoughts and opinions on social media.

    Check the comments below:

  • Tweets or ‘terrorism’?: Saudi’s jailed online activists

    Tweets or ‘terrorism’?: Saudi’s jailed online activists

    A Saudi court’s decision to sentence fitness influencer Manahel al-Otaibi to 11 years in prison highlights what activists describe as a fierce crackdown on even vaguely critical online speech.

    In the past two years the Saudi judiciary has “convicted and handed down lengthy prison terms on dozens of individuals for their expression on social media”, the human rights groups Amnesty International and ALQST said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

    These cases are generally handled by the Specialised Criminal Court, which was established in 2008 to try suspects accused of terrorism, and Saudi authorities do not often comment on them.

    Here are some of the most high-profile recent examples:

    Nourah al-Qahtani

    A mother-of-five, Qahtani was arrested in July 2021 largely in connection with critical posts on Twitter, since rebranded as X, according to a sentencing document provided by Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), a Washington-based rights group.

    She initially received a prison sentence of six-and-a-half years, however prosecutors appealed for a harsher sentence and got their wish: a 45-year term issued in mid-2022.

    Qahtani’s Twitter account, as identified in the sentencing document, features numerous posts criticising the government and others warning of attempts to arrest those behind public protests, which are not tolerated in Saudi Arabia.

    The court found Qahtani had used Twitter “to challenge the religion and justice” of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

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    leaving the page., the kingdom’s 38-year-old de facto ruler, according to the sentencing document.

    It also says she incited “the activities of those who seek to disturb public order and destabilise the security of society and the stability of the state” by “publishing false and malicious tweets”.

    Qahtani did not have a large public profile and it is not clear how her anonymous Twitter account, which has fewer than 600 followers, attracted the attention of Saudi authorities.

    Salma al-Shehab

    A member of Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia’s Shiite minority, Shehab had been studying for a doctorate in Britain and was arrested in January 2021 while visiting on holiday.

    In August 2022 she was sentenced to 34 years behind bars for aiding dissidents seeking to “disrupt public order” in the kingdom by relaying their tweets.

    The mother-of-two, who mostly posted about women’s rights to an account with just a few thousand followers, was also banned from travelling abroad for a further 34 years.

    Both the sentence and travel ban were later reduced to 27 years each, according to Amnesty.

    After Shehab’s sentence was made public, the University of Leeds, where she was studying, said in a statement it was “deeply concerned” and trying to find ways to support her.

    Mohammed al-Ghamdi

    A government critic who denounced alleged corruption and human rights abuses on social media, Mohammed al-Ghamdi was sentenced to death last year.

    The charges include conspiracy against the Saudi leadership, undermining state institutions and supporting terrorist ideology, sources briefed on the details of the verdict said.

    The case against him was at least partly built on posts criticising the government and expressing support for “prisoners of conscience” like the jailed religious clerics Salman al-Awda and Awad al-Qarni, Mohammed’s brother Saeed al-Ghamdi told AFP at the time.

    Mohammed al-Ghamdi, a retired teacher in his 50s, was arrested in June 2022.

    Human Rights Watch said in August 2023 it had seen court documents contending that Ghamdi “targeted the status of the King and the Crown Prince” and that the “magnitude of his actions is amplified by the fact they occurred through a global media platform, necessitating a strict punishment”.

    In an interview with Fox News that aired in September 2023, Prince Mohammed said he disapproved of the judgement and raised the possibility that Ghamdi might be spared death.

    “I’m hoping that in the next phase of trials, the judge there is more experienced. And they might look at it totally different,” Prince Mohammed said.

    Manahel al-Otaibi

    Otaibi, a 29-year-old blogger and fitness instructor, was arrested in November 2022.

    Rights groups contend that law enforcement targeted her for challenging Saudi male guardianship laws and requirements for women to wear the customary body-shrouding abaya robe.

    The Specialised Criminal Court sentenced her to 11 years in prison on January 9, but the sentence was only made public later in a Saudi submission to United Nations special rapporteurs inquiring about the case.

    That document, dated January 24 and seen by AFP on Tuesday, says Otaibi “was convicted of terrorist offences that have no bearing on her exercise of freedom of opinion and expression or her social media posts”.

  • India’s ‘Don’t guess the age’ is the trend we want to see in Pakistan

    India’s ‘Don’t guess the age’ is the trend we want to see in Pakistan

    ‘Don’t guess the age’ is a new trend seen on Indian Twitter, and it has caught our eye. We sure want to see it in Pakistan.

    We despise the very common age-shaming in our desi culture, it is high time that we start embracing that age is just a number. It’s not creases on the face but the coolness of the spirit that matters the most.

    It all started with activist Viji Venkatesh posting an uber-cool and stylish picture of hers on X that prompted people to appreciate their own age and the coolness that comes with it.

    She captioned it, “Don’t guess the age, I’m 72 and killing it. #nofilterneeded”

    Her friends and other X users started posting pictures of themselves. Author Rana Safvi posted a picture with the caption, “Don’t guess the age, I’m 67 and trying to emulate dear Viji as far as the coolness quotient is concerned.” She also stressed it by adding #nofilterneeded

    Filmmaker and human rights activist Onir posted a picture of him smiling at an event and reiterated the point of no filter needed with the caption, “Don’t guess the age, I am 55.”

    The thread kept on expanding as an academician Latika posted a picture of hers playing basketball with the caption, “Don’t guess the age, I am 53 and some more.”

    Climate activist Natasha Ramaratham embraced the #nofilterneeded trend by posting a picture of her carrying a poster and telling the world that she is 52.

    AI product designer Subbakrishna Rao joined the trend, posted a picture of him receiving an award and smiling ear-to-ear. His caption was “53 and rocking it”.

    Sandeep Roy posted a picture of him holding the camera and quipped in the caption, “Don’t guess the age, but 56 in a few months. Mom would have sworn it was “Bao ki teo” (old bong joke)”.

    Humans grow, evolve, change and this should be considered an absolutely normal thing. While physicality isn’t in anyone’s control the spirit is very instinctual. We hope to see people embracing this in our own society.

  • Aiman Khan’s remarkable lookalike takes social media by storm

    Aiman Khan’s remarkable lookalike takes social media by storm

    Aiman Khan has charmed audiences with her talent and charisma over the years.
    Recently, social media was buzzing with surprise over a viral video showing a girl dancing at a wedding. What caught everyone’s eye was how much she looked like Aiman Khan.
    Dressed in a traditional pink outfit, she wowed the crowd with her dance moves, leading many fans to mistake her for the famous actress.
    After the video spread online, people quickly noticed the striking similarity between the girl and Aiman Khan. Fans even tagged Nida Yasir under the video, suggesting to her to invite the girl on her morning show for being Aiman Khan’s lookalike.