Claim: On 6 February 2024, front pages of multiple Pakistani newspapers announced Nawaz Sharif as the next prime minister, claiming he was voted in by the people’s choice. Fact: The front page is an advertisement and not a news piece. Since the 2024 general elections in Pakistan are underway, it cannot be said that Nawaz […]
Claim: The PML-N has announced its decision to boycott the 2024 general elections being held on 8 February in Pakistan. Fact: The PML-N has made no such announcement; the accounts making the claim are fake and not associated with the party. On 8 February 2024, X (formerly Twitter) user @Hasnain8082 posted (archive) a screenshot of […]
Claim: In a recent rally ahead of the 8 February 2024 elections, Asif Ali Zardari said the time has come now to replace Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari with a decent man who can run Pakistan. Fact: The video does not match the audio, which has been altered to include the name of Bilawal when Zardari was actually […]
Claim: Imran Khan was seen sporting a beard on 30 January 2024, the day he was sentenced to 10 years for “leaking state secrets”. Fact: A beard was edited onto Khan’s face in an image that was originally posted by PTI Central Legal Coordinator Mashal Yousafzai on 1 August 2023. On 30 January 2024, X […]
Claim: A video shows PPP leader Khursheed Shah being hit with shoes during a campaign trail in his constituency ahead of the 2024 general elections. Fact: Shah was not hit with shoes during a recent campaign trail; the video is actually over five years old and, therefore, not breaking news. On January 2024, X (formerly […]
Claim: A video shows Pakistani politician and election candidate, Daniyal Aziz, slapping a cricket player. Fact: The video does not show Daniyal Aziz and it is not from Pakistan. It depicts a physical altercation between two Indian politicians. On 23 January 2024, the Facebook page ‘Pti Narowal’ posted (archive) a video showing an altercation that […]
Claim: A picture shows the father of PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, standing handcuffed after being arrested for stealing a buffalo. Fact: The picture actually shows the late Kashmiri separatist leader Maqbool Bhat, who was arrested in 1976 and executed on 11 February 1984. On 27 January 2024, Facebook user ‘Kamred Aslam Khaskheli’ […]
Claim: Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said the 16 January attacks in Pakistan’s Balochistan province were carried out with the knowledge of the Government of Pakistan and in collaboration with Pakistan’s armed forces. Fact: The claim is false. Neither did Iran’s Foreign Minister say that the attack in Balochistan on 16 January was carried […]
Claim: A video shows a top military official of Iran confirming his country launched missiles at a terrorist group in Pakistan. Fact: The video shows IRGC-AF Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh speaking about Iran’s strikes in Iraq and Syria, not Pakistan. On 16 January 2024, X (formerly Twitter) user Mario Nawfal — @MarioNawfal — posted (archive) […]
Claim: An image shows a Palestinian girl whose face and arm were maimed during Israel’s war against Hamas that started in October 2023. Fact: The image is old and from Syria. It is not related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. On 22 January 2024, X (formerly Twitter) user @Kahlissee posted (archive) a picture of a […]
Claim: A video shows the Yemeni Houthi group attacking and boarding a Maersk container ship before US helicopters “successfully thwarted” the attempt. Fact: The video is a compilation of four different old clips edited into one longer video to make it look like footage of a new naval battle. On 1 January 2024, The Times […]
Claim: A video shows a group of people being struck by a tsunami after an earthquake hit Japan on 1 January 2024. Fact: The clip is neither recent nor is it from Japan. It is from Indonesia and dates back to at least 2021. On 1 January 2024, X (formerly Twitter) user @ZockerfreakYT posted a […]