Listen to this articleOn July 11, 2023 Head Social Media Wing (PMLN) started a hate speech campaign against PTI Chairman Imran Khan with hashtag اسرائیل_کا_فتنہ_داماد# with manipulated picture of Imran Khan replacing Pakistani flag with Israel’s Flag in the background criticizing Khan of being a Jewish Agent & Representative of Israel in Pakistan. As he seeks help from Israel from fear of being arrested.
(Manipulated) Source: https://twitter.com/Atifrauf79/status/1678736645179277312
He further accused Khan for foreign funding from Israel
Source: https://twitter.com/Atifrauf79/status/1678737399994564609
PMLN Ex MPA Hina Pervaiz Butt also accused Imran Khan of being a Jewish Agent with a manipulated image.
Source: https://twitter.com/hinaparvezbutt/status/1678792951005061120
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Interior and Legal Affairs Attaullah Tarar also linked statement of Israel Delegate to PTI and Riots on May 9, 2023.
Source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2425750/pti-chief-acted-on-israels-instance-says-tarar
Federal Minister for Power of Pakistan Khurram Dastagir in a press conference also accused Khan of being pro-Israeli and accused Khan Government had made ties with Israel during his tenure.
Source: https://www.aaj.tv/news/30336005
Source: https://twitter.com/U_M_PML/status/1678745773570392065
JUI-F president Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman held a press conference with religious context and accused Israel’s delegate for speaking language of PTI and linking ongoing violation of torture, arrests, Human Rights violation etc with PTI.
Source:https://twitter.com/MoulanaOfficial/status/1679035769489354753
While supporters of JUI-F shared several videos claiming Israel has spoken in defence of Imran Khan and his party.
Source: https://twitter.com/IhsanMarwat_786/status/1678815448392138752
Biased/Misleading reporting by Mainstream Media
Some major mainstream media also shared biased news against Israel’s Delegate linking it with May 9, 2023 Riots and Imran Khan.
Source: https://www.aaj.tv/news/30335784/
https://www.aaj.tv/news/30336005
Source: https://www.neonetwork.pk/11-Jul-2023/144452
Fact Check
Introduction:
On July 10, 2023, 53rd Regular Session of United Nations Human Rights Council on the Universal Periodic Review was held in Geneva in which Israeli delegate Ms. Adi Farjon gave statement on Pakistan for ongoing situation in Pakistan. Transcript of the delegate is given below:
Transcript of Israeli delegate:
“Israel is deeply concerned about the overall human rights situation in Pakistan, where forced disappearances, violence, crackdown on peaceful protests, religious minorities and other marginalized Violence against groups continues.’ “In this regard, Israel is disappointed that all its recommendations were noted during Pakistan’s fourth review,”
“decriminalize same-sex activities” in line with international human rights standards and adopt a “comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation often used to target and persecute religious and other minority groups”
Background:
The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. The headquarters of the Council are at the United Nations Office at Geneva in Switzerland.
The Council assess and investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in United Nations member states and addresses thematic human rights issues like freedom of association and assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of belief and religion, women’s rights, Gender rights, and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities.
Pakistan was also elected as a member of HRC23.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Human_Rights_Council
https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1k/k1k4n176pk
https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2023/07/human-rights-council-adopts-universal-periodic-review-outcomes-pakistan-japan-and-sri
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G23/036/54/PDF/G2303654.pdf?OpenElement
Imran Khan condemning statement of Israel Delegate
Source: https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1679487565500649474
Source: https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1679502549265666050
Conclusion:
Our research confirmed that there is no link of Israel’s delegate statement with former prime minister Imran Khan or Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. After every four years 47 members from different countries are elected to speak on human rights issues around the world. In HRC23 conference Israel’s delegate gave statement on universal periodic review outcomes of Pakistan which was presented by the Government of Pakistan on March 31, 2023. The sharing of Israel’s Delegate statement with religious, altered, and erroneous context in Pakistan, seems a propaganda against Imran Khan & Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
ABCDE Framework-Based Analysis:
| Actor | Government Officials, Opposition Party Supporters, Mainstream Media |
| Behaviour | Statement of Israel delegate at Human Rights Council shared with altered & erroneous context to propagate false & defamatory claims against Chairman PTI Imran Khan |
| Content | Image/Video |
| Degree | The targeted audience of the post was general public. The disinformation was spread on Twitter and Facebook mainly. |
| Effect | The video was shared to defame PTI Chairman Imran Khan for political gains and damage reputation of PTI in upcoming election in October 2023. |
