Khawaja Asif Says Pakistan ‘Hacked IPL Floodlights’ Twitter Says Comedy Show Is Back

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stirred controversy and laughter alike with a bizarre statement in the country's parliament, claiming that Pakistani "cyber warriors" had successfully hacked into India's infrastructure. According to Asif, these alleged cyberattacks included turning off the floodlights during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match and gaining access to the control systems of Indian dams.

"The IPL was stopped and the stadium lights were turned off. Dam waters were released. All these cyberattacks were carried out by our children," Asif declared, without offering any evidence.

His remarks have sparked a storm of mockery across social media, particularly among Indian users who questioned the credibility of the claims. Many netizens pointed out the absurdity of such assertions, especially in light of Pakistan's persistent electricity shortages and lack of technical infrastructure. Critics noted that stadium floodlights are operated through secure electrical systems not susceptible to simple hacks. Jokes flooded platforms, with users sarcastically suggesting that a child unplugging a TV would now qualify as a "cyber warrior."

Experts and users alike highlighted the implausibility of the Defence Minister's statements. The IPL match in question, played in Dharamsala, experienced a floodlight outage, but official reports attributed it to a technical malfunction triggered by an air raid alert-completely unrelated to any hacking activity.

The comments are being interpreted by many as an attempt to divert attention from Pakistan's domestic issues and create a perception of technological prowess amid increasing pressure following India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

With no technical proof to support his assertions, Asif's claims have largely been dismissed as an embarrassment. The social media backlash continues, with users across platforms ridiculing the narrative and labeling it a poor attempt at exaggerating Pakistan's cyber capabilities.