Governor Sindh, Mazari object to retweet by US Embassy against PM

KARACHI: Governor Sindh Imran Ismail and federal minister Shireen Mazari have taken exception to a retweet by US Embassy in Islamabad against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal had shared an article on social media site Twitter by a US daily titled ‘Trump defeat is a blow for the world’s demagogues and dictators’. The PML-N leader captioned it “We have one in Pakistan too. He will be shown way out soon,” taking a jibe at the prime minister.

The tweet by the PML-N leader was apparently retweeted by the official Twitter account of the US Embassy in Islamabad, although it has now been removed.

Governor Sindh Ismail said that it is “utterly absurd” that US Embassy can retweet derogatory remarks against the prime minister. He said it is against diplomatic protocols, adding that there should be an apology if it is fake or hacked. He said the Foreign Office must take the required action.

This is utterly absurd, how can u @usembislamabad retweet against our PM @ImranKhanPTI containing derogatory remarks?This is against diplomatic protocols. An apology is needed with immediate clarification if fake or hacked. @ForeignOfficePk must take required action. pic.twitter.com/2BoVmrdVp8

— Imran Ismail (@ImranIsmailPTI) November 11, 2020

Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari also objected to the retweet by the US Embassy, stating that the mission is “still working in Trumpian mode in support of convicted absconder and intervening brazenly in our internal politics.” She said the US Embassy must “observe norms of diplomacy” and demanded a clarification if the retweet is fake or issue an apology. 

US Embassy still working in Trumpian mode in support of convicted absconder & intervening brazenly in our internal politics! Monroe Doctrine also died centuries ago! US Embassy must observe norms of diplomacy – so if fake then clarify thru tweet; if not then apology tweet needed pic.twitter.com/YI66Ykqqli

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) November 11, 2020

The US Embassy Islamabad issued a clarification and said its Twitter account was accessed last night with authorization and issued an apology, saying it does not endorse posting of political messages.

“The U.S. Embassy Islamabad Twitter account was accessed last night without authorization. The U.S. Embassy does not endorse the posting or retweeting of political messages. We apologize for any confusion that may have resulted from the unauthorized post,” it said.

However, Mazari refused to accept the apology after a huge delay. She said the account was not hacked and someone had access to it. She said it was unacceptable that someone in the US Embassy is pushing a political party’s agenda. She said this can have serious consequences for the scrutiny of visas by staff.

This not good enough esp after great delay! Account was clearly not hacked so someone who had access to it used it “without authorisation”. Unacceptable that someone working in US Embassy pushing a particular pol party’s agenda – has serious consequences incl staff visas scrutiny https://t.co/IWqYtRjVna

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) November 11, 2020