‘Happy birthday abba’: Netizens poke fun at Maleeka Bokhari's post for Imran Khan

Pakistan’s former prime minister and cricketing icon Imran Khan turned 72 on Saturday, his second birthday behind bars.

The PTI founder was arrested on August 5 last year in the Toshakhana corruption case. Multiple cases were filed against him one after the other, and he is convicted in some of them.

His fans and political supporters used hashtag #HappyBirthdayImranKhan on social media today to wish the cricketer-turned politician on his birthday.

Barrister Maleeka Ali Bokhari, a former MNA, also took to X (formerly Twitter) to extend heartfelt birthday wishes to Khan, addressing him as "abba" (father).

Bokhari's tweet read: "Happy birthday to our abba, my inspiration and leader who taught me to dream big, fight injustices & be proud of my identity. May Allah always protect you and give you a long life. Ameen." 

However, her sentimental gesture was met with sarcasm and ridicule from some netizens.

One user responded with a simple "how abba," while another urged Bokhari to refrain from referring to Khan as "abba," saying, "Please leader ko leader rehny dain, abba mat banayein" (Let the leader remain a leader, don't make him a father figure). Another online user jokingly referred to Khan as "the system's abba."

In contrast, PTI-affiliated accounts flooded the platform with birthday greetings, hailing Khan as the "father of the nation" and "our superstar." 

It should be noted that the PTI had announced plans for nationwide protests and rallies in the coming days, escalating pressure on the government to release their leader.