Early Tuesday morning, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan had unsolicited advice for those not intending to vote.

@ImranKhanPTI wrote: “A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything” - Malcolm X. This is for all those Pakistanis who are intending not to vote in the coming historical elections on the 25 of July.”

Unsought opinions are not appreciated, even when they are coming from someone with a huge online footprint like Imran Khan.

Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz was quick to call out on the PTI chief in her response to his tweet. “What do you stand for? Khalayi Makhlooq? Conspiracies? Umpire ki ungli? Sadiq Sanjrani? Dictations? Sponsored Dharnas? Sponsored politics?” she replied.

Maryam was not the only one to school Imran Khan. Sociologist Nida Kirmani tweeted: “Really rich to quote Malcom X coming from the same person who made these racist remarks,” she wrote referring to clip of the PTI chief passing offensive remarks about Mohajirs.

However, the tables were soon turned as the news about the Avenfield reference verdict on July 6 broke later in the day.

“Instead of @MaryamNSharif worrying about what Imran Khan stands for, she should be more concerned about the fact that the Avenfield reference verdict will be announced this Friday. Tighten your seat belts Maryam, there are sure to be some shockwaves ahead!” tweeted a user.

“Avenfield reference verdict on friday. Will the shareef family come back before the verdict,can the verdict be given in their absence. Another big Friday coming up. Another major verdict that will create a major stirr either way,” wrote journalist Kashif Abbasi.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2018