Islamabad, November 28, 2024- In a bid to achieve political objectives, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been accused of launching false propaganda about alleged deaths during protests, including the misuse of images of Palestinian martyrs. PTI has reportedly taken to social media, sharing fake images, videos, and fabricated statistics to conceal the failure of its recent demonstrations.
The party allegedly used images of Palestinian martyrs to advance its narrative, falsely linking the photos to supposed fatalities during its protests. Salman Ahmed, a PTI figure currently abroad, has been accused of associating pictures of Palestinian martyrs with fabricated claims of deaths. Observers have criticized these actions as part of an anti-state agenda spread through social media.
Misleading numbers
PTI leaders have made conflicting claims about the death toll. Salman Akram Raja alleged 20 fatalities, Sher Afzal Marwat claimed 12, Ali Amin Gandapur spoke of hundreds, and Latif Khosa asserted 278 deaths. The contradictory numbers have further fuelled scepticism about the veracity of the claims.
Meanwhile, clarifications from major hospitals, including the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Polyclinic, have refuted these claims. According to PIMS officials, the hospital treated 36 civilians and 66 law enforcement personnel for injuries, with no fatalities reported. Polyclinic Hospital also confirmed it did not receive any bodies, adding that a few minor injuries were treated and patients were discharged after receiving first aid.