Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Friday said that the social media accounts of the country’s embassy in Serbia were hacked. The statement came hours after a parody video was posted on the official Twitter handle, criticising PM Imran Khan over record-breaking inflation and alleged non-payment of salaries for the past three months.

 “With inflation breaking all previous records, how long do you expect @ImranKhanPTI that we [government] official will remain silent & keep working for you without been paid for past 3 months & our children been forced out of school due to non payment of fees. Is this #NayaPakistan?” the tweet posted on the official Twitter handle of the Pakistan embassy in Serbia read. 

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In a tweet, the embassy said: “I am sorry @ImranKhanPTI, am not left with another option.”

Embedded with the tweet was a parody song that mocked Khan. The tweets went viral and have been deleted.

Issuing clarification, in a tweet, the Foreign Office said that the social media accounts of the embassy have been hacked.

“The Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts of the Embassy of Pakistan in Serbia have been hacked. Messages being posted on these accounts are not from the Embassy of Pakistan in Serbia,” it said.

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The “aap nay ghabrana nahi hai” phrase often used by Khan while addressing citizens has become a taunt in Pakistan in the wake of the worsening economic situation and people often tease one another with the jibe.

The prime minister’s digital media aide, Arslan Khalid, also said that the account was “hacked” and the foreign office is “conducting an enquiry into it”.

Khan came to power in August 2018 with the promise to create a “Naya (new) Pakistan”, but the slogan has also turned into a joke and common people often demand that he should give them back the ‘Purana (old) Pakistan’.

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Earlier this week, data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed inflation edged up to 11.5% from 9.2%, the highest increase noted in the past 20 months influenced by a record hike in fuel prices in October.

Petrol prices are at a record high at Rs 145 per litre and rupee is at its record low at Rs 176 against one US dollar.

Khan accuses the opposition parties for destroying the institutions and making it difficult to improve the economic situation. He also blames “mafias” for souring his efforts.