ISLAMABAD – As Punjab government moves forward with its much-anticipated e-taxi initiative, introducing electric taxis in provincial capital, a disturbing and offensive misinformation campaign surfaced on social media.
A series of derogatory posts were shared by supporters of a political party and its ardent supporters including Moonis Elahi – who was declared absconders in money laundering case.
The posts show misleading headlines falsely linked themselves with Pakistan Observer, misusing our name and logo in a clear attempt to discredit initiative and manipulate public opinion. These posts some of which included pictures of the Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz accompanied by highly objectionable and fabricated captions, have been widely shared online.
Besides impersonating Pakistan Observer, the malicious campaign also involved misuse of branding from other reputable media houses including a TV channel to give a false sense of authenticity.
FAKE NEWS ALERT
Let it be clear that Pakistan Observer has not published any such content through our official website, social media platforms, or affiliated channels. These posts are entirely fake and we strongly condemn this act of digital propaganda and character assassination.
Our legal team is actively preparing to pursue legal action against those responsible for spreading this defamatory and fraudulent content. We are also working with relevant authorities and cybercrime units to trace the originators of this disinformation.
All social media users are urged to report this and always verify source of information before sharing to end this menace.
Stay alert. Stay informed.
– The Editorial Team, Pakistan Observer
