PTI deletes tweet calling Nawaz Sharif 'beggar' over IMF bailout

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Lahore unit recently deleted a tweet from October 2015, wherein they termed then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a beggar over borrowing funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In the tweet dated October 7, 2015, the official handle of PTI Lahore said, "Our PM begs money from IMF like beggars."

The move comes after the new Pakistan government on October 8 decided to approach the IMF for a bailout programme to address the financial crisis faced by the cash-strapped country. The decision has been met with a lot of censure, with Twitter users highlighting the party's "double standards" by extensively sharing the three-year-old post until it was taken down.

"Sweet @PTIofficial deleted their tweet. For the record it was about how the #Pakistan prime minister (Nawaz Sharif, at the time) was a beggar of the IMF. Now their own government is headed for a bailout. Enough said," a Twitter user said.

"@PTIofficial deleted their tweet, it was about how the #Pakistan prime minister (#NawazSharif, at the time) was a beggar of the #IMF. Now their own government is headed for a bailout.@ImranKhanPTI," tweeted another user.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had earlier defended his decision to seek the bailout, saying that not only will it help provide relief, but the funds from the IMF will also help drive the country away from a financial emergency, The Express Tribune reported.

"After taking into account the current situation and consultation with leading economists, the government has decided to approach the IMF for a bailout programme," Pakistan Finance Minister Asad Umar stated on Monday.