Claim: Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz was standing behind a bulletproof shield as she delivered a speech at a flood relief camp in Depalpur, Okara in October.
Fact: The claim is false. A review of the complete footage reveals that Nawaz stood behind a podium without a bulletproof shield.
A video shared online shows Maryam Nawaz delivering a speech at a podium. The post was captioned: “سیکیورٹی پیچھے ہٹ جائے، مجھے لوگوں کو دیکھ کر بات کرنے دیں، دیپالپور میں مریم نواز کی “بلٹ پروف شیشے کے پیچھے چھپ کر” سیکیورٹی کو ہدایات”
[Translation: Security, step back, let me talk to the people directly, Maryam Nawaz instructed her security in Depalpur, telling them to move away as she stood “behind bulletproof glass.”]
Nawaz, who is addressing an audience in the clip, says, “Mujhe zara baat karnay dein. Security peechhay se please zara hatt jaein. Mujhay logon ko dekh ke baat karnay dein please. Rastay mein na kharein hon, mein baat karna chahti hoon sab ko dekh ke.”
[Translation: Please let me speak. Security, please step back a little. Let me talk while seeing the people. Don’t stand in the way, I want to speak while looking at everyone.]
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check reverse-searched keyframes from the video to trace the complete footage. The search led to clips shared by several news outlets, including Aaj TV. The Aaj TV video was titled: “🔴 LIVE: Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif Addresses Ceremony Distributing Flood Relief Cards.” ARY News also covered the event, sharing a video titled “🔴LIVE || Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Speeches in Depalpur, Okara || ARY News Live.”
On 20 October, an event was held in Depalpur, Okara, which was among the worst-affected areas by the recent floods in Punjab, Aaj TV reported. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was accompanied by Marriyum Aurangzeb and Azma Bokhari to distribute flood relief cards among the affected residents.
During the event, the local administration of Okara briefed Nawaz on the ongoing relief efforts,. where she also interacted with the flood victims, offering reassurance and words of encouragement. “The chief minister stated that the Punjab government’s funds belong to the people and will be spent entirely on their welfare,” reported ARY News. Nawaz also inspected the counter booths set up to distribute relief cards and was briefed on their operations.
A review of the full video from multiple news outlets, including the one by Aaj TV and ARY News clearly shows that Maryam Nawaz is standing behind a podium without any protective glass. The glass seen in the viral clip, mistaken for a bulletproof shield, is actually part of the booths behind her, where counter numbers are also visible.
Virality
The viral clip was shared here, here, here, here, and here on Facebook. Archived here, here, here, here, and here.
On X, it was shared here, here, here, here, and here. Archived here, here, here, here, and here.
Conclusion: Maryam Nawaz was not standing behind a bulletproof shield during her 20 October speech in Depalpur, Okara.
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Background image in cover photo: AAJ News
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