KARACHI: Foreign journalists have busted a series of organized propaganda by operatives and functionaries of Pakistan’s PMLN-led government as well as its allies regarding recent statement by Chairman PTI Imran Khan in which he expressed desire to have good relations with the US.
It all started when a local newspaper DAWN re-produced a Financial Times story, giving impression as Imran Khan no longer blamed US for his ouster from the government. The snapshot of the local newspaper went viral with a particular group of journalists as well as politicians circulated them on almost all platforms of social media.
The organized campaign reached its peak when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself stepped into it with harsh words criticizing Imran Khan’s ‘vicious role’.
Niazi's interview with FT in which he rebutted his foreign conspiracy theory is a reminder of vicious role he played to harm Pakistan's external relations while pursuing his own petty politics. Nation is shocked by his deceit & treachery inflicting irreparable damage on Pakistan.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 14, 2022
However, PTI leader Shireen Mazari came forward with the facts, explaining how the deliberate attempt to put out a false headline based on Imran Khan’s statement. Taking to Twitter, she said “what IK said was he has put US conspiracy behind him,” calling the headline by DAWN as ‘brazen dishonesty and delib false spin.”
Shameful how @dawn_com delib puts out a false headline. What IK said was he has put US conspiracy behind him. But look at Dawn headline claiming IK "no longer blames US…". Such brazen dishonesty as can be seen btwn what IK actually said & Dawn's delib false spin. Pathetic. pic.twitter.com/N5sceqjhAh
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) November 14, 2022
Amid the social media storm over Imran Khan’s interview and its twisted version being on full-throttle circulation, the FT interviewer himself popped up with a much clearer version.
Our @FT interview with Imran Khan:
“Our relationship with the US has been as of a master-servant… But for that I blame my own governments… The Pakistan I want to lead must have good relationships with everyone, especially the US"https://t.co/scQG1MmegN
— Benjamin Parkin (@b_parkyn) November 13, 2022
Just a day earlier, Sadanand Dhume, writing for Wall Street Journal, said his latest “WSJ column had set off a firestorm in Pakistan, as it also gave a glimpse of how misinformation/disinformation works. TLDR: Pakistani media has used my piece to attack Imran Khan while ignoring or misrepresenting my criticism of the army.”
My latest WSJ column has set off a firestorm in Pakistan. It also gives us a glimpse of how misinformation/disinformation works. TLDR: Pakistani media has used my piece to attack Imran Khan while ignoring or misrepresenting my criticism of the army. 1/nhttps://t.co/fVxZs6Qv12
— Sadanand Dhume (@dhume) November 13, 2022
He posted another screenshot of a local news paper, calling their re-produced version of his story as Fake News.
Fake news from @thenews_intl:
My piece: “His [Imran Khan’s] legion of passionate supporters hope his continuing confrontation with the army will…cleanse Pakistan of corruption and misrule.”
News: “Parliament ousted Khan in April and cleanse Pakistan of corruption and misrule.” pic.twitter.com/MWVrqWg9BY— Sadanand Dhume (@dhume) November 13, 2022
In an earlier development, anchor Melissa Chan featured in Pakistan’s local media as being threatened by PTI followers for conducting ‘strong and harsh’ interview of Imran Khan. Local print media, believed to be closer with government’s circles, went to the extent of printing a false story that the anchor got rape and murder threats for interviewing Khan, after which she turned off the comment sections of her social media platform.
The anchor, later, had to take to Twitter to explain that limiting replies on Twitter had nothing to do with Imran Khan’s interview, and this was how she always used Twitter.
???? To be very clear: Limiting replies had nothing to do with my interview with Imran Khan. This is how I always use Twitter, and I was simply explaining why to people confused they couldn't comment. Anyone saying otherwise is wrong.
— Melissa Chan (@melissakchan) November 12, 2022
A Twitter user, who analyzed the entire campaign, posted his result on social media with following conclusion.
https://twitter.com/asherbajwa/status/1592097088040755201
