’Not a BOT’ trends on Twitter after PML-N accuses PTI of using fake accounts

We are keyboard warriors of Imran Khan and not a bot, says former ruling party on official handle

I am “Not a BOT” became one of the top trends on Twitter after the ruling PML-N claimed that the PTI is using botnets to generate coordinated and spam activity to artificially boost their trends against the government led by newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Congrats all - the signature hashtag is back at number 1. If you (by any chance) know anyone in PMLN ranks, please request another Press Conference on the hashtag. #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور

p.s. NOT a BOT

— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 19, 2022

On Monday, PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz alleged that PTI’s “criminal ring” led by former prime minister Imran Khan was running a smear campaign on social media against the state institutions after his ouster from the power earlier this month.

In a series of tweets, the ruling party leader said the malicious campaign and “lies” about foreign conspiracy were spread by a handful of people employing hundreds of fake accounts and bots.

All the activity on this trend is entirely coordinated -- not organic. All tweets, comments, replies, likes go up and down together, generated by automated bots. PTI is using bot nets to generate coordinated and spam activity to artificially boost their trends on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/G0mpuH6LsU

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 18, 2022

“Another IK [Imran Khan] lie exposed, another Conspiracy unveiled. Turns out that the slander campaigns against State institutions & lies about international conspiracy were churned out & spread by no more than a handful of people employing hundreds of fake accounts & BOTS,” she wrote on her official Twitter handle.

PTI leaders and supporters took to Twitter to brush aside the PML-N leader's claim that their reaction against the government on social media was not organic.

“This is Pakistan Tehreek Insaf Social Media team, we [are] keyboard warriors of Imran Khan. Not a Bot,” wrote the former ruling party on its official Twitter handle.

This is Pakistan Tehreek Insaf Social Media team, we keyboard warriors of @ImranKhanPTI
Not a Bot #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/vibRCXXT25

— Tehreek-e-Insaf (@InsafPK) April 18, 2022

Journalist Imran Riaz Khan also posted data about Twitter trend #امپوٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور [imported government, unacceptable], which became the top trending hashtag after the PTI-led government was toppled by joint opposition through a vote of no-confidence.

From April 11 to 18 - past 7 Days

50,498,500 tweets (fifty million four hundred ninety-eight thousand five hundred)
41,507,700 retweets (82%)
3,242,000 replies (6%)
30,300 TPM max 00:01, 17 Apr 2022
168.0 hour/s of data
17% Female, 83% Male#امپوٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور

— Imran Khan (@ImranRiazKhan) April 18, 2022

Day Tweets per day
2022-04-11 630,200*
2022-04-12 5,112,500
2022-04-13 8,029,300
2022-04-14 7,245,500
2022-04-15 7,637,400
2022-04-16 9,075,600
2022-04-17 7,821,200
2022-04-18 4,946,800*#امپوٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور

— Imran Khan (@ImranRiazKhan) April 18, 2022

In a vlog on his YouTube channel, journalist Imran Khan also accused the PML-N of using distorted hashtags on Twitter to spread “propaganda” against the opponents criticising the new government.

“We are the hundreds of thousands who turned up in Peshawar. We stand with Imran Khan. And yes, we are NOT A BOT,” said another PTI leader Taimur Khan Jhagra.

We are the hundreds of thousands who turned up in Peshawar. We stand with Imran Khan. And yes, we are NOT A BOT.

And oh, by the way...#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/D4txGcxLse

— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) April 19, 2022

Journalist Ihtishamul Haq shared a purported screenshot of PML-N leader Maryam’s deleted tweet in which she had shared a list of Twitter handles contributing to the “fake trends”.

Tweet deleted 😅 pic.twitter.com/m9caAXzxPM

— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) April 18, 2022

Check the accounts Maryam was talking about. pic.twitter.com/xHcL0sIKi1

— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) April 18, 2022

Likewise, other PTI leaders and former cabinet ministers also shared the same thoughts on the microblogging website.

I Omar Ayub Khan am NOT a BOT #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/6S96V6fSDq

— Omar Ayub Khan (@OmarAyubKhan) April 19, 2022

Light humor by @iEjazShah on PMLN's Blunder Press Conference yesterday ... adding to the humorous NOT a BOT series! Matlab sense of humor kamal hi hai hamara!

p.s. hashtag is back at #1. Bots meet up / celebration after Iftar, iA! #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظورpic.twitter.com/Mop7pR9bht

— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 19, 2022

BOTs in London:) ##امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/4BPYqv9f2Z

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 19, 2022

I’m Mohammad Shaan Shahid & I’m not a bot.I have a heart that beats for 🇵🇰& a mind that makes a choice between right & wrong . @ImranKhanPTI is the only Leader standing firm on the right path ..haq .ALLAH never leaves the ones walking on the right side 💯🙏🏼🧿🇵🇰♥️ pic.twitter.com/XQ3Eswjt6i

— Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) April 19, 2022

I am Zia Ullah Bangash, am NOT a BOT #PakistanNeedsElections #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور

— Zia Ullah Bangash (@ZiaBangashPTI) April 19, 2022

What happens when you've watched too much of The Matrix.

PS. Neo is NOT A BOT either. #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور https://t.co/drZdp3hDQs pic.twitter.com/MdffINjH1u

— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) April 19, 2022

To Bot or not to Bot — that is the question

BOTI # 22,376,354#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور

— Awab Alvi (@DrAwab) April 19, 2022

The fools still don't get it..

The public is determined to knock out the imported dummy Government!

Okay, if they think the deluge on Twitter is by bots or the millions gathering on the streets of 🇵🇰 in protest are Martians, let's have General Elections!#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور

— Zartaj Gul Wazir (@zartajgulwazir) April 18, 2022

I am Shah Farman, am NOT a BOT#PakistanNeedsElections #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور

— Shah Farman (@ShahFarman_PTI) April 19, 2022