Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan recently faced social media roasting after a video showed him abruptly walking off during his meeting with Saudi monarch Salman bin Abdulaziz at the sidelines of this month’s Organisation of Islamic Cooperation or OIC Summit. Many had slammed Khan for his lack of etiquette and possible breach of protocol since King Salman bin Abdulaziz’s interpreter was still busy translating the words uttered by the Pakistani PM when the latter chose to walk away.
Days later, Khan is facing another round of social media trolling after his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or the PTI, shared a video of Khan arriving at the Shanghai Cooperation meeting being held in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. In the video, Khan could be seen arriving at the venue as his name was announced in the local language. However, while all other heads of state remained standing to welcome the guests, Khan was seen walking straight to his designated seat and sitting down. Khan remained seated even as other heads of state including Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed other guests while standing next to their seats.
Prime Minister of #Pakistan @ImranKhanPTI‘s Arrival with other World Leaders at Invitation of President of Kyrgyzstan for Opening Ceremony 19th Meeting of the Council of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Bishkek Kyrgyzstan (13.06.19)#SCOSummit2019 pic.twitter.com/fYdKYN3Fv7
— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 13, 2019
As expected, the video evoked strong reactions even from his supporters on Twitter. One user wrote, “Although I am 100% supporting IK n PTI but I think IK should keep standing as all other leaders.Sometimes he makes these silly n useless mistakes which his opponents grab as a opportunity to defame him.” Many Indians took the opportunity to take a dig at Khan. One wrote, “70-year-old kid.” Another user commented, “Don’t know the reason why he sitting and also confused body language..look like he’s not happy sitting last..”
Earlier this month, Khan had been given similar grief from netizens when he broke the protocol during the OIC meeting. (Watch below)
If what the videos says is right then , probability #Saudi Arabia King was thinking “Our (Saudi) religious slave is trying to give lecture in front of the Boss!!!”
Video source – IBtimes #ImranKhan #Pakistan #SaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/rbGzgvtECI— Debasish Sinha (@debasish_sinha) June 7, 2019
In April, Khan had become a topic of social media ridicule after he confused France with Japan when he said that the two countries shared a border.
Welcome to the #NayaPakistan of Imran Khan. Japan and Germany share border Despite 9000km between them. He is changing world map.
Believe it or not, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan studied at Oxford.
Tabdeeli aayi re, Tabdeeli aayi re? pic.twitter.com/C6lrLkOy6m
— Zakir Khan (@ZakirKhan012) April 23, 2019
Khan, who led the Pakistani cricket team to win the World Cup in 1992, came to power last year.