Claim: Pakistan is shutting down its consulate in Kandahar, Afghanistan, to protest against the Taliban government. Fact: The official Twitter account of the Consulate General of Pakistan, Kandahar, was hacked on 2 December 2022. The hacked account tweeted the false claim that the consulate would shut down for two days to protest against the Taliban […]
Claim: A picture shows former Pakistan Army chief General (r) Qamar Javed Bajwa arriving at a stadium in Rawalpindi to watch a cricket match between Pakistan and England. Fact: The image is, in fact, from 2019, when Bajwa went to London to watch a cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa. On 4 December 2022, […]
Claim: An official advertisement from the Government of Pakistan government’s says, “Dear world, thank you for playing with our balls.” Fact: A humorous image from 2018 recently reappeared online with user’sfalsely claiming it is the Pakistan government’s official advertisement for the FIFA 2022 World Cup, held in Qatar. From 19 November, an image was shared […]
Claim: Social media post claim that five tons of frog meat was seized by the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) and Punjab Police, and two people in Lahore were arrested in connection with the case. The meat is being used at hotels and restaurants in the city as a replacement for chicken. Fact: The claim is […]
Claim: A viral video claims The New York Times published a story with the headline, ‘Due to security concerns in Pakistan, Pakistan’s former Army Chief General Bajwa moved to America with his family.’ Fact: The headline is doctored and the claim is false. The New York Times did not publish such a headline or story […]
Claim: A video shows Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif listening to a man in a UK court reading out accusations of misappropriation of British taxpayers’ money and government aid, which was intended for the 2005 flood victims. The allegations were originally revealed in a Daily Mail article in 2019, following which the PML-N leader filed […]
Claim: A social media post claims that “condoms cannot prevent HIV” amid reports of a rise in HIV-positive cases in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. Fact: Condoms are the most effective method to prevent HIV when used properly and consistently, according to multiple reputable public health organisations around the world, including the UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS, CDC, NHS, […]
Claim: Assistant Commissioner Karor Lal Esan issued a letter to Tehsildar Muhammad Iqbal and Naib Tehsildars Naeem Ud Din, Muhammad Tahir and Baz Khan demanding an explanation for their failure to attend a rally organized to express solidarity with the Pakistan Army. The letter specified that in case of a lack of response, disciplinary proceedings […]
Claim: Pakistan won the World Polo Championship 2022 by beating Mexico in the Final 11-8. Fact: Spain won the World Polo Championship 2022. The Pakistan team defeated Mexico in a match 11-8, placing it in 5th position in the world cup rankings. On 9 November 2022, a Twitter handle called @CPEC_UPDATE claimed that Pakistan had […]
Claim: According to a viral WhatsApp message, a file titled “Mexico did it”, with an image showing “how Covid-19 is cured in Mexico” will install a virus on users’ phones in five seconds. Fact: We found the warning to be bogus; no such file exists. On 8 November 2022, Soch Fact Check received a WhatsApp […]
Claim: A UK court has announced its verdict against Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a defamation case about a story published by the British tabloid, Daily Mail, about alleged corruption by Sharif. Fact: The High Court has not ruled against Pakistan’s incumbent prime minister. Justice Sir Matthew Nicklin of the High Court King’s Bench […]
Claim: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) medical director Dr Khalid Masud confirmed 12 torture marks on journalist Arshad Sharif’s body. Fact: Dr Khalid Masud told Soch Fact Check that he never confirmed whether the marks on Arshad Sharif’s body are a sign of torture. Pakistani investigative journalist Arshad Sharif was murdered in Kenya, four […]