“People can still see his tweets and he can still see their tweets.”
In a surprising move, the official Twitter handle of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has unfollowed all accounts.
The Prime Minister was following 19 Twitter handles, including former wife Jemima Goldsmith and some journalists.
Other accounts which have been unfollowed include organisations that he is heading such as the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and Namal Institute in Mianwali.
Twitter users first noticed the discrepancy on December 7, 2020.
A spokesperson for Khan’s party urged people not to read too much into the matter.
Ahmad Jawad, the party’s central secretary of information stated:
“People can still see his tweets and he can still see their tweets.”
He also denied that criticism from the public and journalists prompted the move.
Jawad maintained that the party and Khan still consider social media to be an effective medium and hadn’t lost trust in it.
Before the wipe-out, the last account that the premier had decided to unfollow was of journalist Hamid Mir.
There are rumours rife among netizens that the decision was taken amid scathing, and often sarcastic criticism of the government by the Pakistani TV anchor.
The PM also unfollowed fellow party leaders, including Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood and Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari.
He has also unfollowed Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, former close aide Jahangir Khan Tareen and confidante late Naeem-ul-Haque.
While initially some initially speculated it was an error, others wondered why he did it.
The move prompted varied reactions on social media.
Imran Khan had created his Twitter profile in March 2010. The Pakistan PM is currently being followed by 12.9 million followers on the micro-blogging site.
However, this new development, whether a glitch or an intentional act, has given a chance for Twitterati to take a pot shot at Imran Khan.
Twitterati seems particularly perturbed at the PM for unfollowing his first wife, film producer Jemima Goldsmith.
The Pakistan PM has continued to follow his first wife after divorcing her and subsequently marrying her twice.
Here are some of the reactions:
Khan Sahb @ImranKhanPTI, if there's one person you must never unfollow… It's Jemima the gem.
— Mariam's Madness (@MaddyForLabour) December 7, 2020
Another user said:
“Even though Imran Khan unfollowed everyone but I am sure something inside Jemima just broke.”
One Twitter user questioned:
PM of Pak Imran Khan has unfollowed everyone on Twitter including his earlier wives
What can be the Reason ??
— Megh Updates ?™ (@MeghUpdates) December 8, 2020
Another posted:
“Baqi sub to theik hai khan sahib ne jemima ko b unfollow kr dyia?”
(Unfollowing is still ok but Imran Khan unfollowed even Jemima?)
Imran Khan has not yet released a statement on his reasons for unfollowing everyone on the micro-blogging site.
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