ISLAMABAD – Fake news circulated through Twitter that Chief of Army StaffGeneral Qamar Javed Bajwa is in London took the social media by storm,leading to intense speculations and discussion about the ongoing politicalsituation as well as the future politics of Pakistan.
A few Twitter accounts claimed that the army chief and Major General AsifGhafoor, the former director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations(ISPR), are in London and holding important meetings.
The tweets spread like wildfire in a dry jungle and discussions broke outin WhatsApp groups and social media as to the purpose of the visit. TheTweets also claimed that the military leadership is staying in a hotel on awalking distance from Avenfield flats, the place where deposed primeminister Nawaz Sharif is putting up with his sons Hasan and Hussain.
However, the tweets were factually wrong. Neither the army chief nor theex-ISPR chief was in London. Both have not been in London for many months.It is understood that Ghafoor was in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah aroundthe time of speculation.
A few serving and retired military officers were in London to take part ina few seminars on security on South Asian by a leading think-tank in Londonand for few official meetings but none of the military leaders, as claimed,were in London.
The news circulated on social media was a fictional work and had no basisin truth. The Pakistan High Commission London protocol was engaged as usualwith the official delegation and some of the activities of the delegation,as reported by this paper on Feb.9, were public.
Read Top Stories
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) termed this unfortunate thatsocial media was used to spread news as if the military leadership isengaged in discussions with Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, both of whomare in London.
Claims were made on social media that meetings will take place between themilitary leaders with politicians in London but not only that no meetingtook place, all speculations in this regard turned out to be fake.
The PML-N officials said that Nawaz Sharif is in London for treatment andhe’s not holding any talks with anyone. Shahbaz Sharif has not held anymeeting with anyone on Pakistani politics.
