Tag: fact check

  • Venkatesh Prasad deletes viral tweet about Jay Shah, abuses Muslim journalist for sharing screenshot

    Former Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad on Saturday tweeted what many social media users believe was a cryptic tweet targeting Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Jay Shah, who is also secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

    “It takes one corrupt, arrogant guy to take away the hard work of an organisation that is generally non-corrupt and get a stamp of corruption on the whole leadership, not just on a micro level but at a large level.”

    Prasad’s tweet made many X (former Twitter) users speculate if the former cricketer had targeted BCCI and Jay Shah, son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah. However, Prasad soon deleted his tweet.

    Indian journalist and fact-checker Mohammed Zubair posted a screenshot of the tweet deleted by Prasad.

    AltNews co-founder Zubair was not the only one who posted a screenshot of Prasad’s deleted tweet. Many news outlets did a story on it as well. However, Prasad chose to target and abuse Zubair in a racist and bigoted tweet.

    Prasad quote-tweeted Zubair and wrote: “Haha.. Says a serial hate- monger, who has put so many lives in danger for his agenda. You disguising as a fact-checker is like Terrorists talking about peace. Now post that you need money to survive and ask for donation for your website, no shame in living off by fooling people.”

    In response, Zubair said that he hopes Prasad will be forgiven for his tweet on BCCI by his “political masters for compensating by abusing and comparing” him to “terrorists”.

    One user pointed out that Venkatesh Prasad’s manager is Amritanshu Gupta, a known right-wing BJP supporter, which is why Prasad’s language is of right-wing trolls.

    Many X users called out the former Indian cricketer for his bigoted and hateful tweet against a Muslim journalist in India.

    Prasad posted a new version of his deleted tweet a day later.

  • Fact check: Islamabad Police confirm elderly protester is safe, debunking suicide rumours

    Fact check: Islamabad Police confirm elderly protester is safe, debunking suicide rumours

    In the midst of ongoing nationwide protests against escalating electricity bills, rumours of a tragic incident have emerged, capturing the attention of social media users and news outlets alike. A post that quickly gained traction depicted an elderly man, purportedly driven to despair by soaring electricity prices, who tragically took his own life by jumping off a bridge in Rawalpindi.

    The accompanying image showed the man lying on the road, an electricity bill resting on his chest. However, an investigation by the Islamabad Police has since confirmed that these claims are false.

    The viral post elicited an outpouring of sympathy and concern from prominent social media figures and digital news platforms, who shared the purported tragedy with deep sadness. However, as the post gained momentum, it also caught the attention of the Islamabad Police. Responding to the viral news, the authorities swiftly addressed the situation, clarifying that the incident as portrayed never occurred.

    In an official statement, the Islamabad Police stated, “The case of an elderly citizen jumping from a bridge has been circulating on social media. However, there is no truth to this news. While the elderly citizen did fall during the protest, he later safely returned home. Videos of this incident went viral among citizens on social media platforms. It’s important for citizens to refrain from disseminating such false information and instead report any suspicious activities by calling 15.”

    This incident serves as a reminder of the critical role that accurate information plays in shaping public perception and understanding of events. As protests continue to unfold across Pakistan, staying vigilant against the spread of unverified news is paramount to upholding the integrity of the ongoing discourse.

    Read more: Taxes in your electricity bill: What Pakistanis are paying and what for?

    It is crucial for both individuals and media outlets to exercise responsible reporting, ensuring that the facts are presented accurately and without distortion.

  • Fawad Chaudhry’s 2019 video misrepresented by Indian media as response to Chandrayaan-3

    Fawad Chaudhry’s 2019 video misrepresented by Indian media as response to Chandrayaan-3

    A video of former information minister, Fawad Chaudhry, has been circulating on Indian media, purportedly showing him responding to India’s Chandrayaan-3 moon mission. In the video, Fawad is heard saying that Pakistan did not feel the need to work hard and send a moon mission, which has led to ridicule from Indian social media users.

    However, it is important to clarify the context of this video. The video is dated back to May 26, 2019, during which Fawad Chaudhry served as the Minister of Science and Technology in Pakistan. He was discussing disputes over sighting the Ramzan and Eid moons and announcing the release of a 5-year lunar calendar with the assistance of the science ministry. His statement was related to the moon sighting for the Islamic festivals and was not a direct response to India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission.

    During the TV show in May 2019, Chaudhry was referring to the Ministry of Science and Technology’s viewpoint on the sighting of the Eid moon. He stated, “We have a point of view in the Ministry of Science and Technology. Wherever the moon is, it is visible. Its location is known. It is known when the moon birth is taking place. Where it will be at what altitude, it is known exactly.” This statement had no connection to Chandrayaan-3, as it predates the mission by more than 4 years.

    Unfortunately, some Indian media outlets published this old video without proper research and presented it as a recent interview related to the Chandrayaan-3 mission. This led to misinterpretation and ridicule of Fawad Chaudhry on Indian social media platforms.

    In summary, the viral video of Fawad Chaudhry is not related to India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, but rather pertains to moon sighting for Islamic festivals and dates back to May 2019. The claims of his recent mocking of the Chandrayaan-3 mission are not accurate and should be treated with caution to avoid misrepresentation.

  • Factcheck: Is Afghan singer Hasiba Noori dead?

    Factcheck: Is Afghan singer Hasiba Noori dead?

    Claim: Afghan singer Hasiba Noori had been killed in Peshawar

    On Monday, social media was ablaze with news that Afghan singer Hasiba Noori had passed away in Pakistan under mysterious circumstances, having taken refuge here after the takeover of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Conflicting news reports emerged on social media where accounts said she had passed away in Peshawar, while others said that she had been killed in Quetta.

    A journalist, Izharullah, shut down rumors of Noori’s death in Peshawar, saying that there was no such information available with the police.

    However it was senior journalist Iftikhar Firdous who took to his Twitter account to say that the news was fake, and the Afghani singer is alive and well in Quetta.

    The Current spoke with Firdous on how he reached out to the Afghan singer, and he revealed that he had managed to get in touch with Noori after contacting at least 300 people for 12 hours. Firdous had a video call with Noori, which confirmed that his source was reliable and the news that she died was fake.

    On the viral picture of Noori’s alleged corpse lying in a hospital bed, Firdous revealed that it was taken after a surgery in Karachi, the singer had clarified.

    Currently, Noori is in Quetta, and has informed Firdous that she will post a video to squash these rumors.

    The claim is false.

    The singer also shared a video on her TikTok account to silence the rumors.

  • Fact Check: Were liquor bottles recovered from Saad Rizvi’s car?

    Fact Check: Were liquor bottles recovered from Saad Rizvi’s car?

    Claim: Bottles of liquor were recovered from the car of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Chief Saad Rizvi.

    A screenshot of 24 News HD has been circulating online, stating that bottles of liquor were recovered from Saad Rizvi’s car.

    It has been clarified by 24 News that no such information was shared by the channel and the screen shot is fake. “The news about Saad Rizvi is based on lies… False propaganda against 24 News,” clarified the channel.

    Many on Twitter have also shared the fabricated screenshot, wondering if the news is true, while some used a sarcastic tone. One person tweeted, “According to a news report, 5 bottles of alcohol were stolen from Saad Rizvi’s car #ChalochaloLahoreChalo.”

    On the other hand, some termed it as ‘another horrendous political’ hoax. “Another horrendous politics is being played by the ones who are in power in #Pakistan Whatsoever you do, remember one thing! We don’t believe you. I am not a supporter of #SaadRizvi, but this can’t be truth,” tweeted another.

    Verdict: 24 News screenshot being randomly shared on social media with claims of alcohol recovered from TLP chief Saad Rizvi’s car is fabricated. No such incident took place.

  • Fact-Check: Did Modi say ‘Pakistan will die its own death’, during his recent visit to the US?

    Fact-Check: Did Modi say ‘Pakistan will die its own death’, during his recent visit to the US?

    Claim:

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has said in a video statement shared from the official Twitter account of the party, that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed, “Pakistan will die its own death.”

    While quoting Modi, Imran said, “Don’t talk about Pakistan, your partner now is America. Pakistan is burdened with its own problems.” Imran further said that the arrogant statement was made during Modi’s visit to the United States.

    “It seems that by signing defense and technology agreements with America, they have become so proud that they consider themselves America’s partners,” added Imran.

    Fact:

    However, the Modi statement which Imran was referring to, was actually said in 2019, during Imran Khan’s time as prime minister. The statement was not made during Modi’s recent visit to the US, but at the “Main bhi Chowkidar” event that took place in New Delhi, India.

    Verdict: The claim is false.

  • Fact Check: Has US issued any travel advisory for citizens travelling to Pakistan?

    Fact Check: Has US issued any travel advisory for citizens travelling to Pakistan?

    Claim: A travelling advisory issued by the United States State Department for its citizens who are travelling to Pakistan, has been circulating on social media.

    “If you are traveling to Pakistan from the USA, Canada you should not use NICOP. Instead get a Pakistani visa on USA / Canadian passport.

    Anyone entering Pakistan with a USA / Canadian passport will legally be considered a USA / Canadian citizen and will be entered into Pakistani Immigration Official Records as a USA / Canadian Citizen. He or she will be entitled to all the benefits and facilities available for USA / Canadian citizens”

    The advisory further read:
    Here are some additional tips for staying safe while traveling to Pakistan:
    Be aware of your surroundings: Pay attention to your surroundings and be aware of potential threats.
    Avoid travel to areas that are known to be dangerous: The State Department has a website that lists dangerous areas. You can check this website before you travel to Pakistan.

    Be careful about what you say and do: Be careful about what you say and do in public. Avoid discussing sensitive topics, such as politics or religion.
    Be aware of the local customs: Be respectful of the local customs and traditions.

    Carry a copy of your passport and visa: Carry a copy of your passport and visa with you at all times.

    Stay in touch with your family and friends: Let your family and friends know where you are going and when you expect to return.
    By following these tips, you can help to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trip to Pakistan.

    Fact:
    The US State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) in Pakistan has clarified that the advisory is fake.
    https://twitter.com/State_SCA/status/1665127708957761538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1665127708957761538%7Ctwgr%5E8dc4e19d6d19e00887a321029e53f7ad8ae48414%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthecurrent.pk%2F%3Fp%3D225138

    Verdict: The claim is false.

  • Fact-check: Is the First Lady of Pakistan ill?

    Fact-check: Is the First Lady of Pakistan ill?

    Claim: A screen grab of a news channel apparently airing news that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s wife Tehmina Durrani is experiencing heart trouble is doing the rounds on social media.

    The screenshot says that Tehmina Durrani is experiencing heart complications.

    Fact: Taking to Twitter, Durrani clarified that she is doing very well.

    She wrote, “A country that makes falsehood it’s national language needs to recognise that TRUTH is Islam. By the grace of God, I am very well.”

    VERDICT: The news is false.

  • Fact Check: Did Bilawal visit graves of Indian soldiers who died in Kargil war?

    Fact Check: Did Bilawal visit graves of Indian soldiers who died in Kargil war?

    Claim: A tweet is being circulated on social media, stating that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited the graves of Indian soldiers who died in Kargil war against Pakistan. Along with the tweet is a photo of the Foreign Minister wearing a heavy black coat as he stands before a wreath placed at a memorial.

    The tweet has been shared more than 4093 times.

    https://twitter.com/p4pakipower1/status/1654573262955839488

    Fact: The picture is from foreign minister’s visit to Lithuania earlier this year. During the visit, Bilawal laid a wreath at the monument of Lithuanian martyred freedom fighters.

    Verdict: The claim is false.

    Verdict: The claim is false

  • Fact Check: Did Pakistani parents lock daughter’s grave to prevent rape?

    Fact Check: Did Pakistani parents lock daughter’s grave to prevent rape?

    Claim

    Last week, a photo of a padlocked grave with a metal grate was being widely shared on social media and in news reports. It was being reported that the grave was in Pakistan and was the result of purported increase in necrophilia cases. The claim suggests that the grave is an illustration of how Pakistani mothers use locks to secure the graves of their daughters and protect the corpse from being raped.

    Indian media outlets also carried the story.

    .

    Fact

    Indian fact-checker Mohammed Zubair has said that the photo is, in fact, from Hyderabad city in India. “The image used by the media outlets was actually from a cemetery in Hyderabad. The cemetery is located opposite Masjid E Salar Mulk, a mosque in Darab Jung Colony, Madannapet, Hyderabad,” read the fact check piece written by Mohammed Zubair and Shinjine Majumder.

    “Alt News also spoke to a local resident whose house is near the mosque. He informed us that the grave belonged to an aged woman who had passed away in her seventies. Her son constructed the grille over the grave about 40 days after she had been buried.”

    The grill and padlock was installed to stop the grave from being reopened to put a fresh corpse inside.

    Several indian media outlets picked up the story while crediting Twitter for the image. The picture ANI picked up was tweeted by author Harris Sultan. He has now deleted the tweet.

    The EU DisinfoLab in a report published this year said that ANI repeatedly quotes non-existent bloggers, experts, journalists and think tanks spreading anti-Pakistan/China narratives in India.

    Verdict

    The claim is false.