Claim: In a parliamentary speech, which was termed his ‘farewell address’ on 9 August 2023, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed that over the past 16 months, his PDM government did not incarcerate any political opponents or subject them to harassment. Fact: The claim is misleading. Several prominent PTI figures, political opponents of PDM, were […]
Claim: A picture shows Nawaz Sharif walking with the judge, Humayun Dilawar. A similar post claims the image depicts Sharif walking with the late judge, Arshad Malik. Fact: The man walking alongside Nawaz Sharif is journalist Kousar Kazmi, not Dilawar or Malik, the latter of whom has passed away. On 18 August 2023, Soch Fact […]
Claim: Pakistan’s interim prime minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, has appointed his son as Balochistan’s sports minister. Fact: The image actually shows Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani, the son of the late Mir Siraj Khan Raisani, taking oath as Balochistan’s Sports and Youth Affairs Minister. On 2 September 2023, Soch Fact Check received a WhatsApp message that […]
Claim: A viral WhatsApp message claims that Pakistani currency notes in denominations of 500, 1000, or 5000 rupees bearing serial numbers beginning with AF, CE, or HO are counterfeit. It further suggests that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has released a press statement to alert the public. Fact: The claim is false. A representative […]
Claim: Media outlets published a news story claiming that the Afghan foreign ministry issued an advisory for their citizens urging them to avoid travelling to Pakistan due to political uncertainty and violence. Fact: The claim is false, no advisory has been issued recently. The advisory that has been shared online is from May 2023, when […]
Claim: The Pakistani intelligence agency has traced a call between a PTI and American leaders in which they discussed a foreign woman who was involved in the 9 May unrest and was kept hidden at the US embassy, brainwashed with PTI propaganda and then handed over to the authorities. Now, as a part of the […]
Claim: A viral image shows that the FIA raid in Shaukat Khanum Hospital recovered 260 million dollars in foreign currencies including dollars, pounds, and riyals. Fact: The viral image is from a raid of a Mexican drug lord’s luxury home in March 2007. On 3 September 2023, a Twitter (now X) user (@Drsamina19) shared an […]
Claim: A photo of a news headline saying Bushra Bibi will engage in an 11-day religious ritual to remedy the PTI’s political situation and that PTI sources believe that a solar eclipse may affect Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s political position. Fact: The photo of the news headline was doctored before it was shared by PML-N leader Hina […]
Claim: Viral image claims that the Canadian Parliament suggested that no loans should be granted to Pakistan until the current government conducts free and fair elections. Fact: This is false; no information available on the Canadian Parliament’s website or with any mainstream credible news organisation confirms that the Parliament suggested no loans should be granted […]
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 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 […]