A significant surge in fake news was observed during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad, according to a report by the Fake News Watchdog, a non-profit organization combating disinformation. The report highlighted that unverified news significantly harmed Pakistan’s global image and exacerbated tensions.
The PTI protest, held from November 24-27, 2024, culminated in a late-night crackdown at D-Chowk after protesters bypassed multiple barriers. The Fake News Watchdog noted that fabricated content, including altered images, doctored videos, and false statements attributed to key figures, spread widely on social media and traditional outlets, fostering confusion and mistrust.
Fake reports ranged from false statements attributed to the interior minister to baseless claims about arrests of prominent figures, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and former prime minister Imran Khan’s wife. Additionally, fake reports of hundreds of deaths at local hospitals intensified unrest.
Other fabrications included unsubstantiated news about PTI leader Asad Qaiser being appointed party chairman, resignations of military academy youth, and false claims about a PTI worker’s death during the protest. A manipulated photo of the protest also featured in a press conference by DPO Attock Ghiyas Gul.
The watchdog emphasized that social media played a pivotal role in spreading misinformation due to its speed and reach. Emotional narratives fueled by fake accounts, such as one claiming to belong to PTI founder’s son, further inflamed tensions. Moreover, lapses in mainstream media’s verification processes amplified false information.
The report urged immediate measures to counter misinformation, calling for stricter oversight of social media platforms and improved journalistic standards to curb the spread of fake news.
