Claim: The Government of Pakistan has announced a three-day public holiday across the country. Fact: The government did announce a three-day holiday from 22 March to 24 March 2022 but in Islamabad only, in connection with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting. Fact or Fiction? On 10 March 2022, Express […]
Claim: Pakistan’s embassies in Europe have been ordered to divert funds to Ukraine to evacuate Pakistani nationals from the war-torn country as no Pakistanis have been evacuated so far. The embassies are in need of funds; they cannot even afford to pay salaries to their employees. Fact: The official Twitter account of Pakistan’s Embassy in […]
Claim: A grieving father is seen crying in a video after losing his only son in the March 2022 bomb blast that targeted a Shia mosque in Peshawar. Fact: The video is, in fact, from January 2021 and depicts a man crying after losing his son Ather Mushtaq in Indian administered Kashmir. The video is […]
Claim: Pakistan has imposed economic sanctions on Russia joining other countries sanctioning the country after its invasion of Ukraine. Fact: The claim is false as no statement suggesting Pakistan has – or will – impose sanctions on Russia has been issued by Prime Minister Imran Khan. The news was published by a satire site but […]
Claim: A picture shows a participant of Aurat March 2022 carrying a placard with text that reads, “God please give me a penis I want to rape men.” Fact: The image is originally from 2018 and the text has been edited onto it. The poster, in fact, featured text that read, “Girls Just Wanna Have […]
Claim: A picture shows a woman participating in Aurat March holding a poster that reads, “Real men don’t rape and real women don’t expose body.” Fact: The photo is, in fact, from protests connected to the 2012 Nirbhaya rape case in India. The photo appears to be doctored as the text, “and real women don’t […]
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: On the day a local court handed down the judgment sentencing Zahir Jaffer to death for the murder of Noor Mukadam, BBC News published a story titled, “Noor Muqaddam: Diplomat’s daughter beheaded for spurning proposal.” Fact: Noor Mukadam was found dead at Zahir Jaffer’s home in July 2021. The BBC News headline is misleading […]
Claim: An elderly woman on February 4 died after being injured in a crowd of people lined up to get sugar. Fact: The photo of the elderly woman is, in fact, from 2009. On 4 February 2022, Twitter user @iqra_k12 shared the picture of an elderly woman holding a white bag while standing in a […]
Claim: A photo shows former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senator Sehar Kamran alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin. Fact: Kamran is not currently in Russia. While Kamran did take a selfie with Putin in 2018, a doctored photo of the two is currently going viral. On 23 February 2022, Twitter user @Zakr1a shared a photo of […]
Claim: Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan will be available to play for the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final scheduled for 27 February 2022. Fact: The star spinner has said he will not be available to play at the PSL final due to commitments with the Afghanistan cricket team. Fact or Fiction? On […]
Claim: In a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa paid tribute to 190 soldiers martyred during a four-day battle in the Noshki and Panjgur areas of Balochistan, requested a pay raise for the Frontier Corps (FC) and Rangers personnel, and asked for proper compensation for the martyrs’ families. […]