Shehbaz Sharif Wishes Donald Trump On X Using VPN, Gets Community Note For Flouting His Own Ban

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his congratulations to Donald Trump on his "historic victory" in securing a second term as US President.

However, his message on X (formerly Twitter) came with a misstep, given that Sharif's government has imposed a nationwide ban on the platform.

Photo Credit: PTI

Sharif's post, in which he wished Trump well and expressed his desire to "strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-US partnership," was promptly flagged with a Community Note. The note highlighted that the Pakistani Prime Minister was, in fact, accessing the platform via a VPN, which, under Pakistan's legal framework, constitutes a breach of national regulations.

"Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has banned X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan. He is using a VPN to access X, which is unlawful according to Pakistani law," read the X Community Note.

A screengrab of Shehbaz Sharif's post receiving a Community Note on X has circulated widely.

In April, Pakistan's interior ministry announced that access to X had been blocked due to national security concerns, with users reporting difficulties accessing the platform since mid-February.

Despite the official ban, Sharif and other officials appear to have found ways to bypass it using VPNs. Indeed, several Pakistani leaders, including members of Sharif's own party, have continued using the platform despite legal restrictions.

The ban itself has sparked controversy. The government initially cited concerns over X's refusal to comply with local laws, including the contentious 2021 Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content Rules.

Additionally, the government raised alarms over "hostile elements" allegedly using social media to destabilise Pakistan. However, critics argue the restriction is politically motivated, especially amidst allegations of election interference.

Sharif's political rival, Imran Khan, has been a highly active user of social media in Pakistan, particularly X, where his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has gathered millions of followers.

Now jailed, Khan claims that his removal in 2022 was orchestrated by the military and that elections earlier this year were manipulated to keep his party from power. Some believe the government's restriction on X aims to silence such dissenting voices, particularly since the platform has served as a crucial outlet for opposition.

Critics argue that the Ministry of Interior exceeded its authority by imposing the restriction, bypassing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, is the only entity authorised to regulate online content.

The real objective of the ban, some suggest, is to pressure X into complying with local censorship demands, as has occurred with platforms like YouTube and TikTok.