Defense Minister Khawaja Asif is facing social media backlash after he responded to an AI-generated Marilyn Monroe puzzle on X. He quote-posted the viral image on October 13 with the single word “Watch” followed by a smiley emoji. The puzzle asked users to spot the one thing that does not belong in 1956, and the answer was a modern smartwatch on Monroe’s wrist.
Watch😊
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) October 13, 2026
However, the original post came from an account that reportedly seems to be an AI bot designed to generate engagement. As a result, critics quickly questioned why a senior cabinet minister was interacting with spam content. Several users pointed out that Pakistan faces pressing security challenges and internal crises, making such engagement look out of place.
People took to comments under the X post and called the minister’s interaction unprofessional and out of step with current national circumstances. Another user used the term “honeypot” to describe the incident. Some also questioned why the post appeared on his timeline and why he chose to interact with it at all.
This is not the first time Asif has drawn criticism for his social media activity. In September 2026, he faced international backlash after making a throat-slit gesture toward an Afghan woman journalist during the UN General Assembly session in New York. That incident drew condemnation from both Pakistani and international commentators.
Netizens now argue that a defense minister’s social media presence should reflect the seriousness of the office. Meanwhile, users continue to mock his frequent engagement with memes and viral content on X.
