Misleading Photo
A recent surge in online posts falsely claims that Supreme Court Justice Ayesha A Malik met with women members of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The viral photo, circulated widely on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), depicts Justice Malik alongside two women, sparking misleading assertions.
The Claim:
On June 27, a user on X shared the photo with a caption stating, “Justice Ayesha Malik with the women of PTI,” garnering over 500 views.
Subsequently, a politician reposted the image on June 29, asserting, “Honourable Justice of the Supreme Court with the workers of a political party,” accumulating over 361,000 views, 1,000 reposts, and 2,800 likes. The implication of political association with PTI raised concerns about potential contempt of court.
Fact Check:
Contrary to these claims, the photo was not recent but dates back to 2018. It was captured during a conference on violence against women organized by the United Nations in Lahore, Punjab.
Lahore-based lawyer Khadija Siddiqi, identifiable in the photo with Justice Malik, confirmed its origin, noting it was taken during September 2018 when Justice Malik served as a judge at the Lahore High Court.
Siddiqi clarified that Justice Malik attended the conference as a chief guest, emphasizing that neither she nor Fatima Shaheen, a television anchor also present in the image, are affiliated with PTI.
Context:
The misinformation propagated online misrepresents a judicial figure’s non-political engagement as political, potentially undermining public trust in judicial neutrality. The viral dissemination highlights the challenge of verifying and contextualizing images in the age of digital media.
Response and Clarification:
Responding to the misinformation, the facts indicate that the photo does not depict a recent meeting with PTI members but rather a past professional engagement in a UN-sponsored event. Such misrepresentation underscores the importance of fact-checking and verifying sources before drawing conclusions based on viral content.
The incident underscores the critical need for responsible sharing of information online and highlights the potential ramifications of misleading claims on social and political discourse. As misinformation continues to spread, maintaining vigilance and accuracy in media consumption remains paramount.
