12 times Pakistani sense of humour stole the show on Twitter
The end of the year is upon us, and yearly roundups are spreading like wildfire. After all, for Pakistan alone, this was the year of the elections, of some intense accountability and of some horrendous behaviour by politicians and celebrities alike. International news didn’t fare any better.
In a year that is certain to be remembered as a dumpster fire, the only thing that kept us going was a platform where all the dark souls on this planet gather to laugh at their misery – Twitter.
They say things get worse before they get better. Pakistanis can attest to that, for boy, have we had a year. But after what has been a tough, at times even bleak year for Pakistan, Pakistani Twitter has perhaps never been better. If anything, we can always say we are getting better at laughing at ourselves and taking the mickey out of the bizarreness we experience here on a daily basis.
Here are just some of the best tweets from 2018 to prove that at least Pakistan’s sense of humour has not been affected by the accountability and encroachment drives.
When the PTI jokes wrote themselves
In terms of winning the election, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has had a great year. In terms of literally everything else, it has not. However, this has led to some of the best jokes on social media, so #ThankYouImranKhan.
Someone already did this, I’m so proud of my country’s ability to immediately produce political memes that are 💯 on point pic.twitter.com/wRbEMSNekz
— Mahwash Ajaz 🇵🇰 (@mahwashajaz_) November 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/Andromeda_JY/status/1070741821503012864
Boss: Yar wo 3 mahinay pehle kaam bola tha, hogya? pic.twitter.com/pgUNYd9qVP
— Saagu Daana (@JiMurshad) November 29, 2018
Imran Khan is no longer a U-turn, he’s a roundabout. https://t.co/7U9l07E3r1
— Haider Abbasi (@HaiderKAbbasi) October 18, 2018
When Aamir Liaquat made Pakistan lose its chill
On a good day, we forget Liaquat is a Member of our National Assembly. On a bad day, he goes on to remind us he exists in the worst way possible; by ruining our safe space. Thankfully, whether Liaquat is making us cringe with his interactions with his wife, or making us cringe as he tries for a Netflix crossover, the people of Pakistan find a way to turn the cringe into a laugh (temporarily, of course).
Jeremy should have said "Salam mery Zindgi"
— Ameer Hamza (@007Hamzashahg) December 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/abdullahmajeed_/status/1064156174428315650
When PML-N was not spared either
Safe to say, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has had a year. From Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz going to jail (and then coming back) and the party losing the elections, to both Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif ending up in jail, there were too many incidents but even more jokes.
Nawaz Sharif should just change his name now to Na-Ehl Sharif.
— Mariam's madness (@mariamsmadness) April 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/faisaltanoli59/status/984683387632979970
Chaudhry Nisar has gone global. pic.twitter.com/b3ODSzpTFx
— gal galoch (@antifatwa) November 22, 2018
Nawaz Sharif to contact Rajkumar Hirani for his biopic. The movie to be named Ganju.#AvenfieldReference #NawazSharif
— Xain (@imxain) July 6, 2018
When Faisal Vawda’s ‘bravery’ inspired… a lot of jokes
Vawda bravely decided to arrive on the scene during the attack on the Chinese consulate, and people could not help but take note of his ‘massive’ contributions towards ensuring the safety of all Pakistanis that day.
Faisal Vawda arrives with gun at Chinese Consulate. pic.twitter.com/ENFEsYrPyG
— MLB (@mirzalalbaig) November 23, 2018
What Faisal Vawda hoped would happen outside the consulate today. pic.twitter.com/gNXDZQuNql
— Benazir Shah (@Benazir_Shah) November 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/ReemKhurshid/status/1065953558112149504
https://twitter.com/BilkulSahiKaha/status/1065874166962954241
When women were funny and on point
This was the year women were compared to everything under the sun, from cement to juice boxes, and we somehow found a way to laugh through the ridiculousness of it all, while also schooling sexist folks to perhaps stop objectifying us (quite literally).
toh juice ke dabbe se shaadi kar le bhai. https://t.co/N60A5hmTR7
— Imaan Sheikh (@sheikhimaan) November 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/Hafsa_Khawaja/status/1062417716080971781
When Pakistan burned and Twitter was on fire
Long story short: After protests began throughout the country following the Aasia Bibi verdict, Imran gave a strong speech calling out the protesters and “riyasat se mat takrana” (don’t mess with the state) became a glorified meme. No matter where you stand on the government’s action (or lack thereof), it shall be a while before we forget all the riyasat jokes we were gifted with.
point#5 of TLP - Riyasat agreement https://t.co/SzWHZd0ssa
— tarbooza kharbooz (@nakaamrade) November 2, 2018
'zurror tashreef layein, aap se mil ke buhat khashoggi' https://t.co/sALinF1uWT
— Sir Chasm (@deranged_trader) November 1, 2018
mulloun ko 'tu bahar toh mil' bol khud andar beith gayi hai hakomat
— . (@curljhung) November 1, 2018
When Pakistani cinema brought out the best in Pakistani Twitter
In what was undoubtedly a great year for Pakistani cinema, with more films this year there were more opportunities at hand to laugh at some of the stuff we saw on screen.
https://twitter.com/Hafsa_Khawaja/status/1032720514928783366
Parwaz hai junoon scene:
— فریحہ ✪ (@fay_alif) October 24, 2018
Ahad Raza Mir: tell me masla Kya hai?
Haniya Amir: mein panic Kar jati Hoon
Ahad Raza Mir: panic mat Kya Karo pic.twitter.com/uI05gOjStV
When Uncle Ben posthumously broke Pakistani Twitter
The best part about the disaster that was Ko Ko Korina? The spat between Shireen Mazari and Momina Mustehsan, and the hilarity that followed after Mustehsan brought Uncle Ben from Spiderman into the equation for reasons that remain as unknown to us as the reason why Ko Ko Korina was allowed to release in the first place.
Uncle Ben: After listening to Coke Studio's version of Ko Ko Korina. pic.twitter.com/4ONo3p2iZb
— SIR .. (@SirJohnRoe) October 22, 2018
Me after listening #KoKoKorina pic.twitter.com/DcbA36N7UQ
— Maya 🇵🇰🎓☜ (@Degree_Chahye) October 20, 2018
When Twitter returned after a voting break
Not going to work on Election Day only meant more time for social media, and as the results started pouring in, many people relied on good old humour as a means to cope with the stress and uncertainty.
https://twitter.com/Mister_Poizon/status/1022129570210893824
https://twitter.com/hrofficial786/status/1022420949751226368
https://twitter.com/zeeshanhoti/status/1022181011021606923
When Naya Pakistan just meant more things to joke about
If we are being honest, the Naya Pakistan rhetoric itself got old pretty quick, but the potential for jokes here really was the gift that keeps on giving.
https://twitter.com/muhammadali_174/status/1022217408738729984
naye traffic jam me phassa hua hun
— saad. (@chimgadar) July 26, 2018
When our cricket team deserved the burns
This was perhaps not the best year for Pakistan cricket, and it definitely was not a good year to be a fan of Pakistan cricket on Twitter either!
Pakistan's performance in Asia Cup pic.twitter.com/Adc8PcJO3v
— Shumail (@Shumyl) September 26, 2018
Afghanis ko citizenship do taakay humaari team mai aa sakein.
— kazmi. (@HaayeShabbir) September 25, 2018
When it brought out the self-burns
The best part about Twitter is we never really need an excuse to bring out the best jokes: the ones where we target ourselves.
Farishte to me when I shower: https://t.co/dXNIWBig79
— Shahrukh (@shahrookhh) September 6, 2018
India main homosexuality legal hogayi aur yahan bc heterosexuality bhi illegal hai
— g h a u r a (@ghauraghaura) September 6, 2018
What strange form of warfare have we unleashed upon this world? pic.twitter.com/AqTxiBWFem
— Mangogh (@ManhattanMango) November 19, 2018
Staying alive https://t.co/zSllLedneg
— Nadia (@BayraGarak) August 18, 2018
While we wait for the New Year to begin, we can perhaps find solace in the fact that come what may, at least Pakistani Twitter will continue to entertain us. This is a shoutout to all the Pakistani Twitterattis out there: thank you for making us laugh throughout this horrid year!
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