Claim: Several apparent mugshots of Donald Trump were shared online. Fact: Most of the mugshots are either generated by artificial intelligence or digitally-altered old photos. On 24 August 2023, former Republican US president Donald Trump was booked at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, for allegedly attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 […]
Claim: A picture shows Imran Khan sporting a beard ahead of a court appearance. Fact: The image is digitally manipulated; Khan originally appeared clean-shaved in the picture in question. On 22 August 2023, the Instagram account @iloveimrankhan._ posted (archive) an image showing Imran Khan — the former prime minister and chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf […]
Claim: A social media user shares a video clip of Mahira Khan and states a longer video contains sensitive content. Fact: The video, which is actually behind-the-scenes footage shot by a makeup artist, shows Mahira Khan having a light-hearted conversation with her team and stating that she’s hungry. On 8 August 2023, Twitter user @ssgviews […]
Claim: A visual comprising three photos shows the bodies of three people who were killed in the 2023 Bajaur bombing. Fact: These pictures have nothing to do with the 2023 Bajaur bombing. They are older photos linked to different conflicts. On 31 July 2023, Facebook page ‘Musa IK (کپتان کا دیوانہ)’ posted (archive) a visual, […]
Claim: A picture shows the dead body of Pakistani teenager Arsalan Naseer’s father, who, according to reports, died due to police brutality in August 2023. Fact: The picture is neither related to Arsalan Naseer nor from Pakistan. On 14 August 2023, X (formerly Twitter) user @AamnaFasihi tweeted (archive) a picture of a dead body being […]
Claim: Photos show PML-N supporters taking Humayun Dilawar, a trial court judge, shopping in London. Fact: ADSJ Humayun Dilawar is not seen in any of the pictures. Moreover, the PML-N supporters were in London, while the judge was in Hull. On 8 August 2023, Facebook user ‘Deeba Ajaz Butt’ posted (archive) a combination of five […]
Claim: The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) has launched a programme in collaboration with the German Academic Exchange Service for Pakistani students to get the chance to study at universities in Germany on scholarship. Fact: The DAAD’s Islamabad office has said they do not “have any ongoing collaboration linked to the PMY Programme” at present. […]
Claim: A video shows a crowd of people participating in a protest against the Pakistan Army chief. Fact: The protest had nothing to do with the Pakistan Army chief but was, in fact, against a prominent Shiite cleric being booked in a police case. On 29 August 2023, singer and activist Salman Ahmad posted a […]
Claim: A picture shows Fazlur Rehman sitting in an aeroplane with a bottle of whiskey and a half-filled glass on the armrest beside him. Fact: The image has been doctored; the original photo does not have anything on the armrest. On 9 August 2023, the Facebook page ‘PTI Tiger’ posted (archive) a picture with the […]
Claim: Anchor Fiza Riaz says a litre of petrol costs 173.9 Canadian dollars in Canada. Fact: Petrol prices in Canada are listed in cents per litre; the anchor has falsely portrayed the price as extremely high when compared to those in Pakistan. On 13 August 2023, Fiza Riaz — the host of PNN News’ morning […]
Claim: The economy of Pakistan has shrunk from 6.1% to 0.3%. Fact: The economy of Pakistan has not shrunk or entered a negative region but registered a comparatively lower GDP growth rate of 0.3%, as opposed to 6.1% earlier, indicating that it has experienced a slowdown. On 25 May 2023, the Express Tribune published a […]
Claim: A viral video shows a Pakistani pastor speaking about and condemning the 2023 Jaranwala rampage. The woman in the clip is the daughter of the Pakistani fighter pilot and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Wing Commander Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat. The claim adds that she has given other interviews, in which she said she is proud […]