The official Twitter account of Shehbaz Sharif in the Arabic language has been suspended. The government of Pakistan had created a new Twitter handle, @ShehbazAr, to interact in the Arabic language.
The account was created on Monday. A focal person to the prime minister on social media, Abubakar Umer shared the news on social media. “Official Twitter handle of the Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is launched to strengthen our bond and engagement with brotherly people of Arab countries. Twitter Handle to follow: @ShehbazAr,” said Umer.
The account is suspended 😂😂😂
Twitter doesn't allow criminals to operate multiple benaami accounts, yeh TT nai TT master! https://t.co/6Znv0B8pWs
— Imran Ghazali | #DigitalStrategy (@ImranGhazaliPK) June 7, 2022
Seems CrimeMinister's crimes caught by twitter as his new account in Arabic immediately got suspended! Relevant agency shd vet how that happened perhaps? #ThisIsNot90s #نیچے_اترو_کرسی_سے
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) June 7, 2022
The account was created to enhance people-to-people contact, and engagement with people in the Middle East. Pakistan enjoys close ties with many Arab nations, particularly with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Around three million Pakistani ex-pats are living and working in Saudi Arabia. These ex-pats are the largest source of remittances. UAE is also the second biggest labor market for Pakistani workers.
Abubakar said that the suspension was temporary due to the verification issue. “Twitter needs an ID to complete its verification process. It will be provided shortly,” he added.
“The prime minister himself speaks Arabic fluently, so he has a personal interest in the language and the people who speak this language,” Umer told while talking to Arab News.
Read more: PM Imran expands outreach with Arabic, Turkish social media accounts
Umer informed that the handle has been launched after consultation with embassies in Arabic countries. It would help address ‘propaganda’ against Pakistan in the Arabic language on social media platforms.
“We will be addressing it [propaganda] in the same language,” Umer said. The focal person said that the account will help solicit support from millions of Arabic-speaking people on important issues like the Kashmir issue.
PM Shehbaz Sharif’s newly made arabic twitter account got suspended. pic.twitter.com/2M71vcTV1p
— Adeel Raja (@adeelraja) June 7, 2022
The news of the suspension of the Arabic language account of Shehbaz Sharif made waves on social media. Netizens are asking the reason for the suspension of the account.
Earlier, former Prime Minister Imran Khan too had created the accounts in Arabic and Turkish languages. The account was launched in May 2020 and had videos of PM Khan’s speeches and interviews with messages in the Arabic language. The premier has 12.5 million followers on his official Twitter account and is the topmost followed Pakistani.