Name: Fact check: Indian news outlets duped by fake Twitter account of Pakistan's health ministry
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Fact check: Indian news outlets duped by fake Twitter account of Pakistan's health ministry

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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs authorities battle against the novel coronavirus — which has so far infected 21 people in Pakistan — they also need to address the flow of fake news that is feeding national paranoia by spreading disinformation.An example is a fake Twitter account @MinHealthpk, which is designed to look like Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services and has become a source of headlines in the Indian media.The account was created in September 2019 and has recently been regularly posting false updates about the coronavirus situation in Pakistan.Health authorities have confirmed that the account is fake and its posts are untrue.Sajid Shah, the press relations officer of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, confirmed that the account is fake and has been reported to authorities. Speaking to Dawn, Sindh Media Coordinator to the Health Minister Meeran Yousuf said the same.Besides the official confirmation, the account — that says it is managed by "Staffs" — is visibly fake as it ‘liked’ a tweet posted by a suspicious account with the handle @TheZaiduLeaks.Despite the traces, one of the tweets sent out by the account about army officials has gone viral.“Routine check-up in GHQ Rawalpindi by #COVID19 investigation team have (sic) found that 3 Lt.colonel, 2 Colonel, 2 Brigadier, 1 Maj general has been tested positive for #coronavirus. #CoronavirusPandemic,” it said.Quoting the fake account, Indian news outlet Hindustan Times reported that eight Pakistani Army officers had tested positive for coronavirus.Despite the questionable tweet, an official statement has not yet been released by concerned departments, including the health ministry and the Inter-Services Public Relations.This is not the first time the account has posted shaky claims. Earlier, it had announced that Prime Minister Imran Khan was considering to impose "temporary restrictions on trade through #CPEC".In another tweet, the account claimed that the prime minister's aide Dr Zafar Mirza had ordered that a special task force be constituted to do regular checkups of government and army officials to ensure they have not contracted COVID19.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIndian mindsetThis is one of the fake accounts that India set up against Pakistan and the EU uncovered 250 such accounts.Ok, it may have happened, but does it deserve it to be a headline? Not much difference between media houses of both the countriesHow do they know, India has created false twitter accounts?Complain to Twitter.Does it make any difference???The Indian media has not been duped. It's a sinister game plan to dupe India's own public. 90% of Indian media is owned by Pro RSS and Modi people, hence they set up false websites and then instruct their media to use it for their manipulated narrative.Everyone knows the credibility of Indian so called "news" outlets.This is funny!As because its fake, finger goes to India, it could be Afghans or Bangladeshis?@Zak, why EU wasn't Pakistan capable of doing that. Anyways I think they should have come to you for such made up newsIndian corona virus is spreading fast. In single day jumped from 30 to 75 &amp; with one person dead.Is Pakistan so innocent, never created fake accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram?Who knows.. what you claim a genuine twitter handler is indeed genuine !!Best way to malign, and it deserves.@Vicky Bhatia, You have not read about discoveries made by European about the fake accounts created by the Indian secret media cell."Despite the questionable tweet, an official statement has not yet been released by concerned departments, including the health ministry and the Inter-Services Public Relations."Why should anyone in Pakistan bother releasing a statement? The only people buying this fake news are Hindustanis, the world's most gullible demographic. The civilised world hasn't even paid any attention.When Delhi riots happened, Pakistanis created millions of fake accounts with Hindu names.@Hind..,It's not a "made up news". Google 'India's Disinformation Network exposed by EU' and truth will be revealed.The fake social media messaging is aimed at gaining moral ascendancy over India by trying to create a fake narrative.Facebook removed 790 ‘fake’ accounts linked to Pakistan, India. And its done from both sides to outburst anger, frustration. Both countries are accountable.Nothing new ....this is how they operate.Pakistanis are innocent &amp; naive, never made fake accounts.Scamming is a full time job of our neighbor (India)AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe account has been regularly posting false updates about the coronavirus situation in Pakistan.AdvertisementThe global economy has hit severe turbulence.The outer circle woven around these famous stage performers has been that of misery and sometimes even morbidity.We have failed to translate the oral tradition into the written word.Karachi requires an urgent intervention.Muslim women the world over and their allies among Muslim men continue to face a challenge from extremists.This is not business as usual.WITH a sum as stupendous as Rs460bn — nearly $3bn — at stake, no wonder there is a tussle over it. 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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs authorities battle against the novel coronavirus — which has so far infected 21 people in Pakistan — they also need to address the flow of fake news that is feeding national paranoia by spreading disinformation.An example is a fake Twitter account @MinHealthpk, which is designed to look like Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services and has become a source of headlines in the Indian media.The account was created in September 2019 and has recently been regularly posting false updates about the coronavirus situation in...

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Ramsha Jahangir

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Fact check: Indian news outlets duped by fake Twitter account of Pakistan's health ministry

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