Claim: A screenshot of Afghan cricket player Farid Malik apologising after for a recent on-field feud with Pakistan’s Asif Ali was widely shared on social media Fact: The Twitter account purportedly representing Farid Malik is fake, and neither player has issued an apology for the verbal spat, which turned violent. Pakistan’s cricket team faced off […]
Claim: Shi’ite rallyists attacked the peaceful Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat’s (ASWJ) rally in Khairpur on 11th Muharram. #StopSunniGenocide, #شیعہ_دہشتگردی_نامنظور [Shia terrorism is unacceptable] and #Shi’iteAttackonASWJRally were trending on twitter following the event. ASWJ media and supporters call Shia folk enemies of Islam and the state. ASWJ’s media team is using the clash to justify the implementation […]
Claim: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan called for the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan’s resignation for not including Khan’s photo in the new PKR 75 note. Fact: The news was shared by satire Twitter account South Youthia Index and is being shared as real news across social media platforms. Fact or Fiction? On […]
Claim: Journalist Imran Riaz Khan is collecting donations online to help disabled people in Pakistan. Fact: Imran Riaz Khan’s Twitter account was hacked and a PayPal scam was shared through a tweet. The journalist uploaded a video warning people not to interact with his account or make any donations. On 30 July 2022, journalist Imran […]
Claim: Former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan wrote a tweet asking former Prime Minister Imran Khan to call for public protests if it appears that local elections are being rigged to stop people voting for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Fact: The account responsible for the tweet appears to be impersonating Nisar. No such tweet […]
Claim: American actress and singer Zendaya is pregnant with partner Tom Holland’s baby. Fact: Zendaya is not pregnant. The actress addressed the rumours — which can be traced back to a TikTok video by user @ryan.roberts — on her Instagram story. On 15 June 2022, thousands of tweets flooded Twitter users’ timelines as reports of […]
Claim: Bill Gates’ Twitter account has been suspended following billionaire Elon Musk’s purchase of the social media platform. Fact: Gates’ account has not been suspended as confirmed by a Twitter spokesperson and a spokesperson for the philanthropist. Fact or Fiction? On 26 April 2022, Facebook page Jacksonville Florida “The 904” shared a screenshot claiming that […]
Claim: Punjab politician Aleem Khan announced in a tweet that he would be joining Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Fact: Aleem Khan has not announced that he is joining the PML-N. A Twitter account, with the handle @abdulaleem_1 and bearing a picture of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) dissident member Aleem Khan, posted a tweet at 9:39 PM […]
Claim: A large majority of Pakistanis believe that Aurat March should be banned, according to a survey. Fact: A Twitter poll about Aurat March carried out by talk show host Maleeha Hashmey, who is known for her right-wing, conservative views, is being shared as a representative survey by various news outlets. The poll cannot be […]
Claim: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry described Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, the late Pakistani nuclear scientist, as “fake,” a “joker,” and one of the “fake heroes” of Pakistan in 2012. Fact: Chaudhry did in fact tweet that Dr Qadeer was “fake,” a “joker,” and one of the “fake heroes” of Pakistan in 2012; however, the minister […]