Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has defended his response on X to an AI-generated image of Marilyn Monroe, saying that he runs his own account and does not believe his position requires him to give up his personal identity.
Speaking on a private news channel’s programme on Friday, Asif addressed the criticism he faced after replying to a riddle that asked users to identify an item in an image that did not belong to the 1950s.
Asif reshared the image on Tuesday and pointed out that Monroe was wearing a smart watch, which did not fit the period depicted.
His response drew criticism on social media, with users questioning whether a defence minister should engage with such posts. The original post has since been deleted.
Asked by journalist Shahzad Iqbal whether he operated his X account himself, Asif replied, “Two hundred percent I operate it myself.”
He said that he maintained a personal life alongside his responsibilities as defence minister and saw nothing wrong with expressing himself through humour.
“I have a personal life and a normal life. I am a normal human being; there is nothing special about me,” he said.
Explaining his response to the riddle, Asif said that the post asked users to identify something that should not have appeared in a picture from 1956. Since the image showed Monroe wearing a smart watch, he replied with the word “watch”.
“What is so non-serious about that,” he asked.
When Iqbal pointed out that some people believed a defence minister’s statements should carry more weight, Asif questioned whether holding the office meant he had to give up his individuality.
“I am the defence minister, so should I stop being Khawaja Asif? Should I drop my identity and my individuality?”
He also acknowledged that he posted lighthearted remarks on X for humour and explained that he usually did so late at night, around 11pm or midnight, when he had free time.
