Claim: Pakistani-American actress and model Saeeda Imtiaz died.
Fact: Imtiaz has not died. Her Instagram and Facebook accounts were hacked, and false news about her death went viral.
Fact or Fiction?
On 18 April 2023, Pakistani actress Saeeda Imtiaz’s verified Facebook and Instagram accounts shared news claiming that Imtiaz had passed away. The post reads, “With a heavy heart, we are saddened to inform you that Saida Imtiaz passed away this morning as she was found dead in her room. Rest in peace.”
The post was signed “Admin”, not Imtiaz’s family members. The post was later deleted, but a screenshot of the story can be seen below:
Screenshot of Instagram story after the account was hacked
Saeeda Imtiaz is a Pakistani-American actress and model who started her film debut in Pakistan with “The Building of a Legend,” in which she played Jemima Goldsmith, the ex-wife of cricketer Imran Khan. She is also a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
While news of Imtiaz’s apparent death was being widely reported, news that her Facebook and Instagram accounts were hacked also surfaced.
Later in the day, Imtiaz’s legal advisors debunked the claim.
Then, in a video statement, Imtiaz debunked the false news, stating she is alive and well and said the announcement of her death was the result of her social media accounts being hacked.
She describes waking up on Tuesday morning to an onslaught of calls and text messages from people concerned for her well-being, adding that the circumstance put her in a state of shock. The rumours also sent her siblings and mother, who do not live with her, into a state of panic.
Virality
Many news outlets reported that Saeeda Imtiaz passed away after seeing the Instagram story posted by the hackers. However, many leading news and lifestyle media platforms did not take down their reports or add corrections after Imtiaz and her team clarified the news. For example, at the time of publishing this fact-check, the false news is still available on the social media pages of Dawn Images, Sunday Times, ARY News, Aaj News, Channel 24, and digital media outlets, Galaxy Lollywood, Times of Karachi, and Concept TV News.
Conclusion: Actress Saeeda Imtiaz did not die. Her Instagram account was hacked and the hackers posted a false story claiming she passed away.
Background Image: Filmi Beat