Defence Minister Khawaja Asif became the subject of online mockery after responding with a single word to a viral image puzzle featuring Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe wearing a modern smartwatch in a scene set in 1956.
Asif quote-posted the image on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, October 13, writing simply: “Watch😊”. His brief response prompted users to poke fun at the minister for engaging with what appeared to be AI-generated engagement bait.
The image shows Monroe standing against a backdrop of vintage cars, challenging viewers to identify the detail that does not belong in 1956. The giveaway is a contemporary smartwatch on her wrist, an unmistakably modern accessory in an otherwise period setting.
Watch😊 https://t.co/nr8NIGCseZ
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) October 13, 2026
The interaction quickly drew sarcastic reactions, with users questioning why the defence minister had engaged with a puzzle seemingly designed to generate clicks, comments and reposts.
Ladies and gentlemen… I present to you the defence minister of Islamic republic of Pakistan
— Hasan (@Hason818) October 13, 2026
One user, Hasan, mocked the minister’s response, writing, “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the defence minister of Islamic republic of Pakistan”.
Someone needs to take his phone away lol 😂
— Abdo Dameen MSc (@AbdoDameen) October 13, 2026
Another joked about the minister’s social media activity, “Someone needs to take his phone away.”
@grok As a Defense minister of atomic country (Pakistan) Is it okay to do this kind of post?
— Shehzy khan (@Shahzad28269207) October 13, 2026
Another suggested that Asif had forgotten to switch accounts.
Minister forgot to switch the account
— ShibWeb3 (@ShibWeb3) October 13, 2026
Others questioned whether the post was appropriate for a senior government official. One user tagged the AI chatbot Grok, asking whether such an interaction was suitable for the defence minister of a nuclear-armed country.
The episode highlights a familiar feature of online culture: AI-generated images that place recognisable faces in historical settings while introducing deliberately anachronistic details to encourage engagement.
For public figures, even a brief interaction with such content can attract disproportionate scrutiny. A comment that might pass unnoticed on an ordinary user’s account can become a talking point when it comes from a senior government official.
In Asif’s case, the response was limited to a single word and an emoji, but it was enough to trigger a wave of jokes about his social media activity and the expectations associated with his office.
