'Twitter in Pakistan infested with fake accounts'

JournalismPakistan.com | Published 6 years ago

ISLAMABAD - Umar Saif, a former head of Punjab Information Technology Board, has maintained that Twitter in Pakistan is infested with fake accounts.

Saif, currently serving as an advisor on SDGs for UN, tweeted: “Twitter in Pakistan is fast becoming the equivalent of rent-a-crowd for political jalsas ...”

Twitter in Pakistan is fast becoming the equivalent of rent-a-crowd for political jalsas ... https://t.co/g7CVp9ZOt3
— Umar Saif (@umarsaif) May 1, 2019

Earlier, he tweeted that less than 1% Pakistanis use Twitter. “Less than 0.6% of Pakistanis actively use Twitter (~1.2 million monthly active users). Surprisingly, while social media usage grew in Pakistan, twitter saw 8% drop last quarter. Twitter in Pakistan is infested with fake accounts, specifically to abuse this medium & genuine users.”

Don't Miss These

Sohrab Barkat’s airport arrest defies court directive

November 27, 2025: Journalist Sohrab Barkatt was detained at Islamabad Airport despite a court order removing his name from the PNIL, raising concerns about rule-of-law gaps and media freedoms.

Najam Sethi to debut new show on Dunya News

November 26, 2025: Najam Sethi will host a new prime-time show on Dunya News following his departure from Samaa TV, signaling a key move in Pakistan’s competitive media landscape.

Shalimar Recording Company to terminate all staff

November 26, 2025: Shalimar Recording and Broadcasting Company (SRBC) will cease operations and terminate all personnel by Nov 30, 2025, as ordered under court-supervised liquidation, affecting hundreds of employees.

Lahore journalists reported missing after by-election coverage

November 25, 2025: Two Lahore-based digital journalists went missing after covering the alleged by-election irregularities, with colleagues alleging police involvement and no court appearance reported.

Journalists face new risks and opportunities from X’s location labels

November 24, 2025: Journalists should brace for both safety risks and new verification tools after X’s 'About This Account' feature begins to disclose the location of user accounts.

New study shows alarming decline in press freedom in Pakistan

November 20, 2025: New data from the Worlds of Journalism Report shows rising threats, political pressures, and shrinking media freedom for Pakistani journalists working in an increasingly hostile environment.

Shahzeb Khanzada faces lawsuit threat in Canada over video

November 19, 2025: Shahid Bhatti threatens legal action against Shahzeb Khanzada and his wife in Canada, claiming their actions endangered his life and violated Canadian law.

Journalists condemn police handling of Imran Khan’s sisters

November 19, 2025: Journalists across Pakistan condemn police for allegedly roughing up Imran Khan’s sisters outside Adiala Jail, sparking outrage and raising questions about rights and accountability.

Newsroom

AI videos reshape political communication worldwide

November 27, 2025 AI-generated videos are rapidly transforming political communication, raising concerns over misinformation, verification challenges, and evolving regulatory responses across major digital platforms.

GIJN opens submissions for 2026 Sigma Awards in data journalism

November 26, 2025 GIJN has opened submissions for the 2026 Sigma Awards, inviting journalists worldwide to submit their best data journalism projects published in 2025.

Former editor urges China's media restraint amid Japan diplomatic row

November 26, 2025 Former Global Times editor urges restraint in China’s state media coverage of Japan, highlighting censorship, social media deletions, and challenges for independent journalism.

UN alarm over India's media crackdown after Pahalgam attack

November 26, 2025 UN experts raise alarm over Kashmir crackdown, citing mass arrests, media restrictions, and social media blocks that threaten journalists and freedom of expression.

Australian teens seek High Court block on under-16 social media ban

November 26, 2025 Two Australian 15-year-olds have filed a High Court challenge to block the upcoming under-16 social media ban, arguing it violates constitutional protections for political communication and digital participation.