'On Wednesday, several news outlets including India Today, Zee News, CNN18 and India.com reported a "civil war-like situation" after an inquiry was ordered by Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa into the circumstances surrounding the arrest of an opposition leader in Karachi'
Politicians and government ministers have urged Twitter to
take notice of the Indian media circulating fake news on the social media site
about a "civil war" breaking out in the port city of Karachi.
On Wednesday, several news outlets including India Today,
Zee News, CNN18 and India.com reported a "civil war-like situation"
after an inquiry was ordered by Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa
into the circumstances surrounding the arrest of an opposition leader in Karachi.
Some reports cited another source, the International Herald,
as saying that clashes had been reported in the country's financial hub between
the Sindh police and the army. A fake video was also being circulated on
Twitter, claiming to show the alleged clash.
CNN18, which is an Indian affiliate of renowned US media outlet CNN International, also shared a similar video on Twitter. However, the media outlet soon deleted the video from their timeline.
What actually happened
The reports stemmed from an inquiry ordered by the Pak Army
chief into circumstances surrounding the arrest of PML-N leader retired Capt
Mohammad Safdar. The arrest came a day after the Pakistan Democratic Movement
(PDM) – an 11-party alliance of opposition parties that seeks to oust the
government – staged their second public meeting in Karachi.
While Safdar was released hours after his arrest, PML-N Vice
President Maryam Nawaz, who is also Safdar's wife, had alleged that the Sindh
inspector general of police was forcibly "taken to the sector commander's
office and asked to sign" her husband's arrest orders.
She claimed that when the IGP showed reluctance, he was told
that the arrest would be carried out by the Rangers, a paramilitary force.
"After his signatures were forcibly taken on the arrest orders, he was told
police would carry out the arrest," Maryam claimed.
The allegation was denied by Maritime Affairs Minister Ali
Zaidi as a "nonsense narrative". However, this incident propelled the
Sindh police force to submit leave applications en masse, citing the incident
as an obstacle for them in discharging their official duties.
The police officials later deferred their leaves after COAS
Bajwa took notice and ordered an immediate inquiry. Despite Indian media
reports, there were no clashes or riots, just a very busy day at the newsroom.
'Indian media propaganda at its peak'
The absurd claims made by the Indian media compelled
ministers and politicians to call on Twitter to take notice of the
misinformation.
"Indian media in hyper drive with fake news on Pakistan and unfortunate that Twitter is [deliberately ignoring it]," said Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari.
Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi said the
Indian media propaganda was at its peak and was being fuelled by the PDM
"circus".
"Both social and economic indicators of Pakistan are showing positive signs. The artificially manufactured food inflation is being brought under control as well. Pakistan is on the rise under Prime Minister Imran Khan," he said.
The chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, Shehryar
Khan Afridi, said Indian media is "deeply involved in a fake, fabricated
and malicious propaganda campaign" to malign the country's state
institutions.
"Twitter needs to take action against Indian social media accounts who are involved in nefarious attacks of fake news against Pakistan."
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman stated Pakistan's internal dissent
is a sign of its "political health".
"That democracy is never one person or view; That when freedoms are curtailed people push back; That when constitutional rights are under threat, the brave speak out. Indian trolls need to get a life and look to their own," she said.
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