A photo from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s office, taken soon after the newly elected CM took oath, has sparked criticism after the Pakistan flag that usually stands behind the CM’s chair appeared to be moved to a side table, while a PTI party flag occupied the prominent backdrop.
The optics drew swift pushback online, with users arguing that a chief minister represents the entire province, not a single party.
Anchor Iqrar-ul-Hassan Syed questioned the symbolism: “Is Pakistan’s flag so neglected that, in the office of the chief minister of the country’s most important province, it was removed from its designated place and put on a table in the corner like a spare item?”
Another social media user said on X “Under the National Flag Rules, when the national flag is displayed with a provincial flag, the national flag must be higher. In the KP Chief Minister’s office, not only was the national flag removed, but a small national flag was placed on a table, which amounted to its disrespect.”
Social media users called the switch a breach of decorum and state symbolism, urging immediate correction in line with official protocol.
The image continued to circulate widely on social media late Thursday under the Hashtag #قومی_پرچم_کیوں_ہٹایا؟ , with users demanding that the national flag be restored to the central position behind the CM’s seat.
