Twitter began removing its blue ticks en masse, as previously used to signify the disappearance of a verified account from notable users including Imran Khan, Maryam Nawaz, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and others. .
Owner Elon Musk, who has seen his $44 billion investment in the site, previously promised to get rid of what he described as a “system of landlords and peasants.”
He instead offered to sell the blue badge to anyone who would pay $8 a month, a move he said last year would “empower journalism and the voice of the people”.
Earlier dates set for the rollback of the ticks – used mostly by celebrities, journalists and politicians – have gone without any noticeable action.
But on Thursday, the high-profile accounts, and others, appeared to have the checkmarks removed.
Politicians and government agencies also feel that the handle of the Prime Minister’s office is also one of the injured.
While Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Khan lost his blue check, his party’s official Twitter handle retained the check mark by paying $8.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Twitter handle has been verified with a gray tick as it is an “account of a government or multilateral organization”.
Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb’s account is also verified by GreyTick as it is linked to the official account.
Apart from politicians and sports figures including captain Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, cricketer-turned-commentator Wasim Akram, chairman of the management committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Najam Sethi was also injured.
Former finance minister Miftah Ismail, National Assembly official Handel, PTI leader Hamad Azhar, Fawad Chaudhry and Asad Qaiser are among those who have paid $8 to buy a blue badge.
Among celebrities, singer-turned-actor Ali Zafar has also subscribed to BlueTick. However, Mahira Khan lost her blue badge.
