Pakistanis don’t often show any mercy to those who try to mislead them. Since the terrifying rise of social media in the country, it can change lives for good and bad as well.
One of Pakistan’s leading news channels, Samaa TV, tried to garner some attention by posting a piece of fake news on Twitter. However, it backfired very quickly.
They posted Prime Minister Imran Khan’s pictures visiting Nathiagali Gali, Abbottabad on Eid. Later, after facing strong backlash from the PM house, a Samaa Editor realised her mistake (call it blunder) and had to delete the tweet. The pictures were from the year 2017 when PM Khan had visited the region.
Clarification: We have deleted a tweet and a story about the prime minister spending Eid in Galiyat. The photos are from 2017.
The error is regretted.
–Editor— Samaa English (@SamaaEnglish) May 25, 2020
People are now calling out the ‘prestigious’ news channel for misleading information.
This is what happens when our news channels spread Fake News.
This photo is from May 2017, which was posted by @SamaaEnglish that PM is in NathiaGali TODAY on Eid, which resulted in the Bugz-e-Imran bridage to launch an abusive attack on the PM.
What a shame Pakistani media! https://t.co/kLQwfeuv6X
— Imran Ghazali (@ImranGhazaliPK) May 25, 2020
Here’s how it’s done. By one of the best in Pakistan, with shamelessness, dishonesty and a complete lack of integrity. https://t.co/ddGWlydnWl pic.twitter.com/ea0PFhpy7W
— Hashim (@hashim_i) May 25, 2020
Hi @Mahim_Maher, the picture that @SAMAATV is claiming is of today, actually surfaced in 2017. Please delete fake news. https://t.co/ZIg2NmWlRQ
— Faisal Ahmad Jafri (@faisalahmadj) May 25, 2020
These are very old pictures from Nathiagali.I am shocked to see how media groups dont even do basic fact checking before posting any news https://t.co/h1LiWzhNJO
— Dr Arslan Khalid (@arslankhalid_m) May 25, 2020
CC: @Mahim_Maher where did all the so called checks about authentic information go?
May be it was too tempting to get some RTs and spread disinformation to hate on PM IK. https://t.co/vhNRTCoWEV
— Imran Ghazali (@ImranGhazaliPK) May 25, 2020
مولانا طارق جمیل صاحب شکریہ
ہر دن کوئی نہ کوئی آپ کے سچ کو ثابت کرنے میں لگا ھوا ہے— rashid hafeez (@rashidabbasy) May 25, 2020
Awww.. that’s sweet!
First intentionally put up a fake news, when it gets viral. Delete it and tweet an apology— Khadeeja Chahat (@Khadeeja_Chahat) May 25, 2020
Samaa TV often faces similar backlash for false stories, which now serve as an editorial nightmare. It seems like they have no internal control and verification has become a huge issue for the media outlet’s digital team.
Instead of serving personal agendas in the guise of ‘ethical journalism’, we hope Samaa TV’s digital team can learn from this in a positive manner.
