PTI left bewildered after Punjab govt's Twitter handle deleted 'mysteriously'

Official says the PML-N's social media team probably 'took the password with them'; PTI denies the allegation

In what appears to be a cyber row between the newly-elected Imran Khan led-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and arch-rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Punjab government's official Twitter account has been taken down or deleted 'mysteriously'.

Deputy Director Press Information and digital media in-charge PTI Zulfiqar Ali told The Express Tribune that the provincial government is trying to obtain the verified twitter handle back legally.

"Abu Bakr Omer, who headed PML-N's social media wing probably took the password along with him," Ali added.

Ahsan Alvi, PTI's Twitter head went a step further and suggested that the alleged shutdown accounted for cyber crime, saying his party will get to the bottom of the matter.



However, Omer, when contacted, denied that the previous government had deliberately deleted the account, saying an incoming government has to retrieve social media accounts themselves.

On the other hand, well placed sources say that the details of the account rested with Omer, but that it was not handed over to the incoming government.

Meanwhile, the incumbent Punjab government created a new Twitter handle to retain the online official presence.

Interestingly, the account, which originally had 226,000 followers was 'archived' before being shut down.