Fake News Watchdog, a non-profit organization that combats misinformation and misinformation, has revealed that fake news was spread during the recent Islamabad march of Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). A significant increase was observed.
According to the watchdog, the barrage of fake news has wreaked havoc. It said that the unverified information also damaged Pakistan’s reputation abroad.
From November 24 to 27, PTI’s protest spread unrest in the federal capital. The party leadership suspended the protest only after the authorities launched a late-night crackdown on the protesters who forced their way to D Chowk despite several roadblocks.
“The events surrounding the PTI protests from 24 to 27 November 2024 illustrated the profound impact of fake news on political, social and institutional dynamics in Pakistan. During this period, misinformation was merely a by-product of political unrest. It actively shaped the narrative, heightened tensions, and influenced public actions—whether through manipulated images, doctored videos, or falsehoods attributed to key figures Statements — spreads rapidly across social media and traditional news platforms, fueling confusion and mistrust.
“The phenomenon exposed weaknesses in the country’s information ecosystem, where unverified claims gained traction in the absence of effective countermeasures,” said the fake news buster.
According to the report, a fabricated statement from the Home Minister about the citizens of Kashmir continued to circulate. A fake report about the PTI founder’s alleged statement was also circulating on various platforms.
The fake news about the arrest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan intensified the protests, the report said, referring to hundreds of dead bodies at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). False news and polyclinic hospital Islamabad also had negative effects.
Meanwhile, fake news about the nomination of PTI leader and former speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser as party chairman also became part of breaking news, the fake news watchdog said.
The report said that the activists were instigated by a fake account named Sulaiman Isa Khan, son of Tehreek-e-Insaf founder.
The news of transfer of PTI founder from Adiala Jail turned out to be false. While the news of 600 youths resigning from army academies during the protest was also proved to be baseless.
Another baseless news of firing on Qaiser and Mehmood Khan Achakzai also spread. While PTI leader Qasim Suri’s statements regarding PTI founder’s health had extremely negative effects, the Islamabad-based organization said.
The report said that DPO Attock Ghiyas Gul’s press conference showed an old photo of the PTI protest.
The news of the alleged death of a PTI worker who fell from a container during prayers was discussed at the international level. While the news of the meeting of the same person who fell from the container with the Chief Minister KPK was also proved to be false.
The fake news not only disturbed the security agencies but also the PTI leadership.
According to the Fake News Monitor, victims of fake news include the government, security agencies and political parties.
The watchdog called for urgent measures to tackle the challenges posed by fake news.
He pointed out the role of social media in serving as an important tool for disinformation.
“The role of social media was particularly important, serving as a tool for mobilization and as a breeding ground for misinformation. The speed and reach of the platform allowed misinformation to spread unchecked. Spread, in which emotionally charged content exploits public sentiment.
“At the same time, lapses in journalistic standards by the mainstream media contributed to the problem, as unverified reports from influential outlets gave more legitimacy to misleading information. The circulation of fake news only Influence was not limited to grassroots users or individual influencers, but also included established institutions, exemplifying a systemic challenge in ensuring reliable communication.