SERBIA: The official Twitter account of Pakistan’s embassy in Serbia tweeted criticism targeting Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday, citing rising inflation and alleged non-payment of salaries for three months. Two hours later, the Foreign Office issued a statement, saying social media accounts of the embassy had been hacked.
The tweets have since been deleted.
“The Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts of the Embassy of Pakistan in Serbia have been hacked. Messages being posted on these accounts are not from the Embassy of Pakistan in Serbia,” the Foreign Office spokesperson tweeted.
The verified account had tweeted: “With inflation breaking all previous records, how long do you expect @ImranKhanPTI that we [government] official will remain silent & keep working for you without been paid for past 3 months & our children been forced out of school due to non payment of fees. Is this Naya Pakistan?”
The tweet along with the text critising the premier included a parody song with the “Ghabrana nahi hai (we do not have to worry)” catchphrase.
Under the above tweet, the account posted another tweet saying: “I am sorry @ImranKhanPTI, am not left with another option.”
The tweet by the verified account of the embassy mentioned Prime Minister Imran Khan, asking how long does he expect the government officials to remain silent in the face of hyperinflation. “Is this Naya Pakistan,” the tweet questioned.
A parody song was also embedded in the tweet that mocked Imran for his evergreen phrase ‘ghabrana nahi hai’.
In a second tweet, the official account of the embassy said that they were sorry but they were left with no option to air their reservations on a public forum.
Responding to the tweet by the embassy, PM’s digital media aide, Dr Arslan Khalid also said that the account was “hacked”. He cited the Foreign Office as his source for the news.
Earlier this week, data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed inflation edged up to 11.5pc from 9.2pc, the highest increase noted in the past 20 months influenced by a record hike in fuel prices in October.
The massive rupee depreciation fuelled import-led inflation. Inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to its highest level in 20 months — the period when global oil prices kept rising steadily undermining earlier gains.
At the same time, prices of fresh vegetables, fruits and meat also posted a persistent increase in major urban and rural centres.
The average inflation during the July-November period rose to 9.32pc on a yearly basis.