india

Updated: Nov 09, 2015 07:45 IST

For a country that figured so prominently in the campaign for the Bihar assembly elections, the people of Pakistan reacted to the results on Sunday with a mix of humour and derision.

Pakistan was injected into the bitter election campaign when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah invoked the neighbouring country last month and said “crackers will be burst in celebration” across the border if his party lost the polls.

As the results indicated that the BJP was set to lose the elections, senior Pakistan People’s Party leader Sherry Rehman tweeted: “Crackers? Pakistan would care if any of this was about cricket. Otherwise a #Bihar loss or win for BJP is more imp to India than anyone else.”

Crackers? Pakistan would care if any of this was about cricket. Otherwise a #Bihar loss or win for BJP is more imp to India than anyone else — SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) November 8, 2015

Pakistani journalist Naila Inayat, tongue firmly in cheek, tweeted that she had “to go and set off firecrackers for BJP’s defeat”.

Now if you could excuse me, have to go and set-off firecrackers for BJP's defeat. #MaukaMauka — Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) November 8, 2015

Despite the dismissive tone of some users, Tweeple in Pakistan closely followed the election results, making #Bihar, #BJP and #BiharResults some of the top trends in the country through the day.

Some like journalist Amir Matin placed the election results against the backdrop of the strained relations between India and Pakistan. “Either way this would determine Modi mood – a game changer for India-Pakistan too,” he tweeted.

Nail biting finish in Bihar? Either way this woulld determine Modi mood--a game changer for India-Pakistan too https://t.co/YPefXP4ijJ — Amir Mateen (@AmirMateen2) November 8, 2015

Leading rights activist Marvi Sirmed tweeted the “Bihar results mean much more for Indians” because Pakistanis “have couple of other things to worry (about)”.

Haha that's right. Bihar results mean much more for Indians than Pakistanis. We have couple of other things to worry https://t.co/giEZuBe1dI — Marvi Sirmed (@marvisirmed) November 8, 2015

Columnist Gul Bukhari said BJP chief Amit Shah’s remarks were a “much bigger insult to Pakistan” than to India and its voters.

A much bigger insult to Pakistan. https://t.co/xJ7WMxbVh7 — Gul Bukhari (@gulbukhari) November 8, 2015

Many Twitter users in Pakistan retweeted Indian user @Ghani_Bawri’s post that featured a brief video of fireworks going off with the text: “Exclusive pictures coming in from Pakistan.”

Exclusive Pictures coming from Pakistan, as Nitish Kumar is leading in Bihar Poll. pic.twitter.com/paKVD89xaT — Kirti (@Ghani_Bawri) November 8, 2015

The Bihar polls were not the first political event to which Pakistan has been linked. In the past, several BJP leaders have said that those opposed to the government’s policies or the ruling party should be sent to Pakistan.