Claim: A video has been circulating online with the claim that an angry crowd tried to burn a Member of the National Assembly Mubarak Zeb Khan.
Fact: The video is from a clash that broke out at the final match of the Bajaur Cricket League. However, MNA Mubarak Zeb was not present at the event.
On 1 November, X user @CivisResistere shared a video (archive) on X that shows an angry crowd with the caption, “عوام کا صبر جواب دے گیا 🚨
غدار مبارک زیب کو عوام نے زندہ جلانے کی کوشش کی 🔥🔥
جرنیل زرا صبر کر لیں بہت جلد عوام کی ایچ کیو میں بیٹھے اصل غداروں کے پیچھے بھی آئیں گے 🚨”
Mubarak Zeb Khan
Born in November 1998, Mubarak Zeb Khan entered politics this year as an independent candidate for the Provincial Assembly in the National Assembly Constituencies NA-8 and PK-22 after his elder brother’s tragic murder. Mubarak Zeb’’s brother Rehan Zeb Khan, an independent candidate affiliated with former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, died in a targeted attack while campaigning in January 2024 a week before the general elections, according to CNN. District police informed CNN that gunmen opened fire on Rehan Zeb’s car in a market in Bajaur.
Mubarak Zeb secured a decisive victory, receiving 74,008 votes in NA-8 and 23,386 votes in PK-22, becoming the youngest member of the National Assembly (MNA) in Bajaur’s history at 25-and-a-half years old, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.
Determined to honour his late brother’s legacy, Mubarak Zeb pledged to seek justice for his brother’s murder while prioritising infrastructure development and the establishment of educational institutions, especially for girls, in Tehsil Barang, stated a report by the Tribal News Network. He has stated his plans to consult with his constituents before making decisions on potential party affiliations and is committed to Imran Khan’s vision for the people.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check conducted a keyword search using terms such as “Mubarak Zeb Khan,” “attacked,” and “Bajaur Cricket League” but found no news reports indicating an attack on the MNA. However, we found multiple reports about a clash between supporters of two cricket teams during the tournament’s final match in Bajaur on 1 November.
Dawn reported that the incident occurred during the second inning at Bajaur Sports Complex in Khar, when supporters of the 804 team, owned by PTI’s former lawmaker Gul Zafar Khan, rejected a third umpire’s decision against them. The scuffle escalated as supporters of both teams, including Salarzai Zalmi, owned by MNA Mubarak Zeb Khan, used chairs, sticks, and bats to attack each other. The violence caused damage to the stadium, widespread panic, and a stampede among thousands of spectators, the report added.
A report by Arab News Pakistan included a video from the cricket field, showing a large crowd gathered with the game halted. A Bajaur police spokesperson Muhammad Israr told Arab News Pakistan via a phone call that “Over 20,000 spectators were present at the ground, chanting political slogans against each other, which triggered the clash.” Israr added that “One person died of a heart attack during the incident, and while many sustained minor injuries, only a few required hospital treatment.”
A police official informed Arab News Pakistan that evidence was being collected and a report would be filed later. “Two deputy superintendents of police were slightly injured and received first aid at the site,” he was quoted as saying in the report.
On 3 November, The News International reported that an FIR was registered against Mian Habib Gul, Fazal Amin Salarzai, Suleiman, Gul Munir Azad, Mohib Danish, Ishaq Zia, Feroz Shah, and other unidentified individuals. “The case, filed by ASI Lal Rehman, included charges under Sections 322, 324, 353, 148, 149, and 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code,” according to the report.
Six individuals were taken into custody, with more arrests anticipated as police analysed footage to identify additional suspects. The clash resulted in one fatality and injuries to several others, including two DSPs, Abdul Aziz and Suhail Salar, along with a police constable, the report added.
We contacted the District Police Office in Bajaur, who confirmed that while a clash did occur during the tournament’s final match, MNA Mubarak Zeb was not present at the scene.
Wasim Sajjad, who reported on the incident for Arab News Pakistan, informed us that, “According to the police and spectators, Mubarak Zeb was not present at the event.” He further explained that the MNA’s cousin, Mian Habib Gul, was among the spectators leading the team, while Gul Zafar, the PTI-backed candidate, was leading Team 804, as confirmed by the police.
While the incident in the video is chaotic and it is hard to obtain a clear view of all individuals involved, MNA Mubarak Zeb is not visible in the footage. His absence from the event was also confirmed by the Bajaur police.
Virality
The claim was shared here, here, here, here, here, and here on X. Archived here, here, here, here, here, and here.
On Facebook, it was shared here (archive).
It was also shared here on Instagram.
Conclusion: The claim that MNA Mubarak Zeb Khan was targeted by an angry mob during the Bajaur Cricket League is false. The video circulating online misrepresents the incident, which was a clash between rival cricket team supporters. Mubarak Zeb was not present at the scene, as confirmed by the local police.
–
Background image in cover photo: Aaj News
To appeal against our fact-check, please send an email to appeals@sochfactcheck.com