The 'Pehalwan' Protocol: Who Was Behind The Social Media Blunder That Embarrassed Pakistan’s PM? | Exclusive

Last Updated:April 15, 2026, 00:39 IST

The Pakistan Prime Minister’s personal X account is apparently managed by a member of his personal staff who lacks higher education

In an era where digital diplomacy can make or break international relations, a shocking revelation by veteran journalist Absar Alam has exposed the startling lack of professionalism behind Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official presence on X. The disclosure follows a widely mocked “copy-paste" saga that saw a draft post—complete with internal instructions—put out to the Prime Minister’s global audience, causing significant diplomatic embarrassment.

Contrary to expectations of a sophisticated strategic communications team, Alam reveals that the Prime Minister’s personal X account is managed by a member of his personal staff who lacks higher education. Known affectionately by the Prime Minister as “Pehalwan" (the Wrestler), this staffer is reportedly the individual responsible for the recent “draft" post blunder. The incident highlighted a glaring lack of oversight at the highest level of the state, where a sensitive platform used for official government positioning was left in the hands of an unqualified aide.

The “Pehalwan" persona has now become a symbol of the “ad-hocism" that critics say plagues the current administration. Instead of a seasoned diplomat or a communication specialist vetting every syllable, the Prime Minister’s digital voice is apparently subject to the whims and errors of a personal favourite. This lack of a formalised digital protocol has raised serious questions about how Pakistan’s narrative is being projected to the world.

Perhaps more shocking than the error itself is the nature of the “punishment" meted out following the global gaffe. According to Alam, the Prime Minister’s reprimand was strikingly mild, reportedly consisting only of the instruction that “Pehalwan shouldn’t come before me for a few days". This casual approach to a high-stakes professional failure has drawn sharp criticism from the journalistic community and the political opposition alike.

The lack of accountability is reportedly compounded by internal power dynamics. Sources suggest that “Pehalwan" enjoys the protection of a high-ranking federal minister, making him virtually untouchable despite repeated lapses. This protectionist culture indicates that personal loyalty and ministerial patronage continue to trump meritocracy and professional competence within the Prime Minister’s inner circle.

The controversy serves as a microcosm of the larger governance challenges facing the Shehbaz Sharif administration. If the Prime Minister’s own digital office cannot manage a basic social media post without international ridicule, critics argue there is little hope for the complex structural reforms required to fix the national economy or manage delicate geopolitical negotiations.

News world The 'Pehalwan' Protocol: Who Was Behind The Social Media Blunder That Embarrassed Pakistan’s PM? | Exclusive

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