Daily Times

In the chaotic landscape of today’s media, the rise of fake news looms like a dark cloud over the sanctity of journalism. It’s a crisis we can no longer afford to ignore, especially when a political party like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) takes centre stage in this insidious drama. Weeks after its chaotic protest took the country by storm, spreading chaos in not just D-chowk, and Islamabad but smearing egg all over the country’s reputation around the world, more and more evidence keeps emerging of the loopholes that got twisted, the lies that were designed and the ethical boundaries that were crossed.

The deliberate spread of false information was a premeditated assault on the truth. PTI has been caught red-handed in this web of deceit, fabricating narratives to skew public opinion and sow confusion among the masses. From the state reaction to tales of what happened on the ground to the list of casualties to the number that went missing to crackdowns launched against the protestors, the entire script reeks of a calculated strategy that turns the media into a mouthpiece for lies. As professionals in this field, we must rise in outrage!

While YouTubers continued peddling lies, the crack had soon begun to emerge when sincere journalises decided to prioritise the sanctity of their profession over the worth of dollars. Detailed investigations have revealed the extent of PTI’s fake news propaganda. Their reports detail how this party is weaponizing misinformation to stir up emotions and manipulate perceptions. This is reprehensible behaviour that undermines the very foundation of journalism-our commitment to the truth! We cannot, and must not, allow this to go unchecked. “The fake news surrounding the protests has had a devastating impact,” said the report released by Fake News Watchdog. “The unchecked spread of unverified information has tarnished Pakistan’s global image,” it added. Another report compiled by the Daily Times remarked, “PTI’s versions of whatever happened in D-chowk gave a new life to the word propaganda.”

PTI has been caught red-handed in this web of deceit, fabricating narratives to skew public opinion and sow confusion among the masses.

It is crucial to hold PTI accountable for its actions and demand transparency in its communication strategies.

Media watchdogs play a vital role in monitoring and combating fake news in the media landscape. Fact checks by not just local media sources but also international think tanks have hence proved instrumental in exposing and debunking the false information spread by political parties like PTI. Their efforts in holding PTI accountable for its fake news propaganda are commendable and serve as a reminder of the importance of ethical journalism.

The proliferation of fake news has far-reaching consequences for society. Misinformation can fuel division, spread fear, and erode trust in institutions. In the case of PTI’s protest in D-chowk, the spread of fake news has created confusion and sown discord among the public. We, the public, needs to confront and challenge such deceptive practices to protect the integrity of the media industry.

PTI’s rampant spread of fake news surrounding their protests is a vile manifestation of unethical communication, which should not be allowed to fester any further than it already has.

The writer is a freelance columnist.