ake news has become a pervasive problem in Pakistan and around the world. It shows no signs of slowing down. In 2022, we saw a host of outrageous and bizarre claims circulating on social media. Of those, some had serious consequences for some people.

One of the most famous instances of fake news in Pakistan this year was the viral claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin had converted Moscow’s Cathedral Church into a mosque and handed over the keys to the Grand Mufti of Russia. The claim caused outrage and concern among many Muslims and it was shared widely on social media. The video being circulated was actually of the inauguration of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque in 2015, which was built from scratch and had nothing to do with Putin or the Russian Orthodox Church.

Another misleading claim that caused a stir in Pakistan was the headline stating that the government had announced a plan to eliminate electricity bills for the public. The ‘report’ was greeted with excitement and shared by many. The article was misleading in that while the Punjab government was carrying out solarising projects across public institutions, there was no plan to eliminate electricity bills for the general public.

Fake news can have serious consequences, as we saw in the case of the alleged Valentine’s Day guidelines issued by three Pakistani universities. These guidelines, which included instructions for male students to wear caps and female students to cover their heads, as well as a ban on ‘gender mixing’, caused outrage and disbelief on social media. However, the images being circulated were fake and the universities in question denied issuing such notifications.

Fake news can also be used for political gain. A viral photo showing a huge crowd at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk supposedly protesting the removal of prime minister Imran Khan was shared widely on social media and used to suggest that there was widespread opposition to Khan’s removal. However, the photo had been doctored to make the crowd look bigger than it actually was.

Fake news can also have serious consequences for some individuals. We saw such a case in the false claim that former president Pervez Musharraf had passed away after being put on a ventilator. The claim caused widespread concern as many people believed it initially. Fortunately, Musharraf’s family quickly denied the rumour.

One such claim was made by former prime minister Imran Khan in a video posted to his official Facebook account. In the video, Khan can be seen holding a banner with a picture of a man who he claimed was killed during a PTI long march in Islamabad. Khan blamed the man’s death on Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah. However, the banner actually showed an image of journalist and anti-drug activist Muhammad Zada Agra, who was killed in 2021.

In November, a video showed former prime minister Imran Khan purportedly walking at the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital following an attempt on his life. However, the video was from August 2021.

Another false claim that circulated on social media in June was a video showing former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha (retired) making shocking ‘revelations’ about Pakistan’s nuclear assets being “at risk.” The video was shared widely on Facebook, but it was later revealed that it had been taken from the now-deleted YouTube channel of another Pakistan Army veteran and had no connection to Gen Pasha.

In July, a clash between the participants of a Shi’ite rally and the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASJW) workers in Khairpur sparked a wave of fake news on social media. Some ASWJ media and supporters claimed that a ‘Sunni genocide’ was taking place. However, no lives were lost in the rally and the claim was completely unfounded.

Another piece of fake news that circulated in July was a cartoon that was alleged to have been published in The New York Times. The cartoon, which apparently depicted the Pakistani military’s extensive involvement in the country’s political affairs, was shared widely on WhatsApp and social media. However, it was later revealed that the cartoon had never been published in The New York Times.

In September, a Twitter account claiming to be operated by the Chief Minister Parvez Elahi began posting updates. However, it was later revealed that the account was not operated by Elahi or his team. Also in September, social media posts claimed that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 had been rejected by the National Assembly or the Senate. However, this was not the case.

In October, viral images and videos circulated on social media purporting to show the daughter of journalist Arshad Sharif crying over a body in a coffin. However, the video actually showed Senator Usman Kakar’s daughter crying at his funeral.

In November, a video circulated on social media purported to show former prime minister Imran Khan walking at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital after an attempt on his life in Wazirabad. However, the video was not recent. It was from August 2021, when Khan visited the hospital in Peshawar to inaugurate the newly established operating room suite and an intensive care unit.

Another false claim that circulated in November was speculation about the number of bullets that had hit Imran Khan during the attack on his rally near Wazirabad. While some claimed that three or four bullets had hit Khan, others alleged that he faked his injuries and was not hit by abullet. According to the medical team and management of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Khan was indeed hit by bullet fragments. The number of bullets he was hit by cannot be confirmed until the anticipated forensic ballistics investigation is concluded.

In December, Daily Mail finally apologised for publishing a misleading expose about alleged corruption by Shahbaz Sharif. Although the paper had apologised, the false allegations triggered by the initial story kept coming back throughout the year. This highlights the lasting impact that fake news can have, even after it has been debunked. It is important therefore to fact-check information before sharing it.

Fake news can have serious consequences, as we saw in 2022. It can spread quickly and easily through social media, and it can be difficult to identify and combat. It is important for all of us to be vigilant and act responsibly. One should also be wary of sensational headlines and unbelievable claims.

The writer is an  investigative journalist