Read on Twitter
The amount of disinformation & confusion about covid-19 being spread by the PTI is so much that I need a thread to keep track.
1/ Let's start from the top with Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI :
Coronavirus is like the flu https://twitter.com/VeengasJ/status/1241737265992400896
1/ Let's start from the top with Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI :
Coronavirus is like the flu https://twitter.com/VeengasJ/status/1241737265992400896
2/ Also @ImranKhanPTI :
"Some doctors say that the type of heat Pakistan experiences, that makes the virus lose its effectiveness"
To be fair, he did say "there is a difference of opinion", but it was still irresponsible for a head of govt to say this
https://www.dawn.com/news/1542413
"Some doctors say that the type of heat Pakistan experiences, that makes the virus lose its effectiveness"
To be fair, he did say "there is a difference of opinion", but it was still irresponsible for a head of govt to say this
https://www.dawn.com/news/1542413
3/ Information Minister (at the time) @Dr_FirdousPTI:
"Coronavirus is dangerous but not deadly" https://twitter.com/murtazaviews/status/1242036592128274432
"Coronavirus is dangerous but not deadly" https://twitter.com/murtazaviews/status/1242036592128274432
4/ Governor of Punjab @ChMSarwar:
"Drinking hot water at regular intervals will redirect the virus from your lungs to your stomach where it will be killed" https://twitter.com/sourvelvett/status/1241042280217264131
"Drinking hot water at regular intervals will redirect the virus from your lungs to your stomach where it will be killed" https://twitter.com/sourvelvett/status/1241042280217264131
5/ Governor of Sindh @ImranIsmailPTI (who contracted covid-19 himself):
"Coronavirus is a flu" https://twitter.com/ImranIsmailPTI/status/1258392003366342658
"Coronavirus is a flu" https://twitter.com/ImranIsmailPTI/status/1258392003366342658
6/ More from Governor of Sindh @ImranIsmailPTI
"Coronavirus lockdown is a fashion symbol" https://twitter.com/Aadiiroy/status/1267268687511379970
"Coronavirus lockdown is a fashion symbol" https://twitter.com/Aadiiroy/status/1267268687511379970
7/ MPA and president of PTI Karachi (who has been leading the crusade against a lockdown in Sindh) @KhurrumZamanPTI:
"The Sindh govt is falsely exaggerating figures. When we visit the hospitals we learn that there are no coronavirus patients there"
"The Sindh govt is falsely exaggerating figures. When we visit the hospitals we learn that there are no coronavirus patients there"
8/ More from @KhurrumZamanPTI:
Pakistan has "Type C" coronavirus https://twitter.com/nailainayat/status/1267882193419984897
Pakistan has "Type C" coronavirus https://twitter.com/nailainayat/status/1267882193419984897
9/ Unofficial sufi rock star of PTI @sufisal:
Treat/prevent coronavirus by drinking kalonji and sumak in hot water https://twitter.com/Jaferii/status/1251896979921174530
Treat/prevent coronavirus by drinking kalonji and sumak in hot water https://twitter.com/Jaferii/status/1251896979921174530
10/ President of Pakistan @ArifAlvi sharing a misguiding video that YouTube later removed for contradictingadvice from medical officials:
https://thecurrent.pk/president-alvi-retweets-video-about-coronavirus-which-is-full-of-misinformation/ https://twitter.com/ArifAlvi/status/1254375393198592004
https://thecurrent.pk/president-alvi-retweets-video-about-coronavirus-which-is-full-of-misinformation/ https://twitter.com/ArifAlvi/status/1254375393198592004
11/ One more from Governor Sindh @ImranIsmailPTI, irresponsibly tweeting a propaganda infographic produced by right wing UK brexit lobby group @LeaveEUOfficial: https://twitter.com/ImranIsmailPTI/status/1262855654844309512
12/ And this absolute masterpiece by Minister for *Planning* and PTI whizkid @Asad_Umar speaking one month ago:
4,800 people die in traffic accidents on average every month in Pakistan and only 720 from coronavirus, yet we haven't banned cars
https://twitter.com/reema_omer/status/1257306939899314177
4,800 people die in traffic accidents on average every month in Pakistan and only 720 from coronavirus, yet we haven't banned cars
https://twitter.com/reema_omer/status/1257306939899314177
13/ This one is not from PTI, but rather PPP's @Nabilgabol (thankfully he doesnt hold any office in any govt, legislature or party afaik):
"WHO is paying $3000 to the families of every victim of coronavirus", so people are faking it https://twitter.com/AmmarRashidT/status/1260237907241177088
"WHO is paying $3000 to the families of every victim of coronavirus", so people are faking it https://twitter.com/AmmarRashidT/status/1260237907241177088
14/ Forgot to include this beauty from Communications Minister @MuradSaeedPTI:
"The Governor of New York City [sic] says New York will follow the contact tracing and tracking introduced by Imran Khan in his concept of Smart Lockdown"
https://twitter.com/NazranaYusufzai/status/1259921541145325574
"The Governor of New York City [sic] says New York will follow the contact tracing and tracking introduced by Imran Khan in his concept of Smart Lockdown"
https://twitter.com/NazranaYusufzai/status/1259921541145325574
15/ Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI again:
"I want to tell the nation again, [the coronavirus] is only a threat to the elderly and sick" https://twitter.com/hassanchoudary/status/1270073326115880962
"I want to tell the nation again, [the coronavirus] is only a threat to the elderly and sick" https://twitter.com/hassanchoudary/status/1270073326115880962
16/ More from PM @ImranKhanPTI:
"The opposition wanted us to shut down mosques, as happened everywhere else in the world, because of the coronavirus threat. But when we checked after Ramzan, there was no coronavirus outbreak from any mosque" https://twitter.com/InsafPKTV/status/1269252363073794048
"The opposition wanted us to shut down mosques, as happened everywhere else in the world, because of the coronavirus threat. But when we checked after Ramzan, there was no coronavirus outbreak from any mosque" https://twitter.com/InsafPKTV/status/1269252363073794048
17/ The Federal Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs @Ali_MuhammadPTI retweeted this conspiracy-pushing tweet by local crackpot Zaid Hamid, claiming that the US planted the virus and then created the panic to sell vaccines and take over the world
(Via @themanlyduckman)
(Via @themanlyduckman)
18/ Sindh Governor @ImranIsmailPTI:
"Covid-19 is not a deadly disease"
He then goes on to recommend entirely untested herbal remedies such as senna leaves and ginger water
(via @themanlyduckman) https://twitter.com/ImranIsmailPTI/status/1261972320983420928
"Covid-19 is not a deadly disease"
He then goes on to recommend entirely untested herbal remedies such as senna leaves and ginger water
(via @themanlyduckman) https://twitter.com/ImranIsmailPTI/status/1261972320983420928
19/ Chief Minister of Balochistan @jam_kamal tweets this widely debunked WhatsApp forward claiming that drinking water can prevent the coronavirus https://twitter.com/jam_kamal/status/1238861785475751937
20/ Also from CM Balochistan @jam_kamal:
Balochistan has the mild version of Covid-19
https://twitter.com/jam_kamal/status/1269942390216851456
Balochistan has the mild version of Covid-19
https://twitter.com/jam_kamal/status/1269942390216851456
21/ Official twitter account of the Pakistani govt citing an unnamed stufy by the Met Dept implying the Covid-19 transmission rate had decreased due to higher temperature and humidity: https://twitter.com/pid_gov/status/1264189962263695361
22/ Official twitter account of Govt of Pakistan tweets a graphic urging people to follow proper SOPs, but the person at the front of the main photo is wearing his mask incorrectly: https://twitter.com/desmukh/status/1264421376909283328
23/ Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI during a televised address on June 13:
"If the Mayor of New York -- the world's richest city -- is saying New York has gone *bankrupt* because of the lockdown, then just imagine the effect a lockdown would have on a country like ours"
"If the Mayor of New York -- the world's richest city -- is saying New York has gone *bankrupt* because of the lockdown, then just imagine the effect a lockdown would have on a country like ours"
24/ The supposed "NY city went bankrupt due to lockdown" story must have made been forwarded to the PTI Talking Points WhatsApp group, because it was repeated by Punjab Health Minister @Dr_YasminRashid 2 days later on @GeoASKKS:
25/ This fake news was also repeated by Punjab Information Minister @Fayazchohanpti:
"The Minister said that a strict lockdown resulted in the bankruptcy of New York City which had a health budget that was more than the total budget of Pakistan." https://nation.com.pk/15-Jun-2020/targeted-lockdown-best-way-to-contain-virus-fayyaz-chohan
"The Minister said that a strict lockdown resulted in the bankruptcy of New York City which had a health budget that was more than the total budget of Pakistan." https://nation.com.pk/15-Jun-2020/targeted-lockdown-best-way-to-contain-virus-fayyaz-chohan
26/ When doctors around the country were holding press conferences literally begging the govt to enforce a stricter lockdown, PTI leader and now special assistant to PM, @SHABAZGIL, accused the doctors of playing politics at the behest of the PPP:
27/ Federal planning minister & head of the govt's campaign against the coronavirus @Asad_Umar:
We shouldnt take seriously a study by Imperial College predicting the spread of Covid-19 in Pakistan because we aren't "mental slaves of white people"
https://twitter.com/mosharrafzaidi/status/1272801679335972864
We shouldnt take seriously a study by Imperial College predicting the spread of Covid-19 in Pakistan because we aren't "mental slaves of white people"
https://twitter.com/mosharrafzaidi/status/1272801679335972864
28/ Foreign Minister @SMQureshiPTI when asked why he isnt following social distancing guidelines:
"Are you doing it?" https://twitter.com/murtazasolangi/status/1257305109131747328
"Are you doing it?" https://twitter.com/murtazasolangi/status/1257305109131747328
29/ Federal Cabinet members @UdarOfficial & @aminattock addressing an oath taking ceremony of the Tiger Force (which is tasked with ensuring social distancing guidelines) without much social distancing.
https://photo.app.com.pk/photo/2020/05/attock-may-18-advisor-to-pm-on-climate-change-malik-amin-aslam-addressing-the-oath-taking-ceremony-of-tiger-force-at-mehria-marquee-app-photo-by-ghulam-shabbir/
https://photo.app.com.pk/photo/2020/05/attock-may-18-special-assistant-to-the-prime-minister-for-youth-affairs-usman-dar-addressing-the-oath-taking-ceremony-of-tiger-force-at-mehria-marquee-app-photo-by-ghulam-shabbir/
https://photo.app.com.pk/photo/2020/05/attock-may-18-advisor-to-pm-on-climate-change-malik-amin-aslam-addressing-the-oath-taking-ceremony-of-tiger-force-at-mehria-marquee-app-photo-by-ghulam-shabbir/
https://photo.app.com.pk/photo/2020/05/attock-may-18-special-assistant-to-the-prime-minister-for-youth-affairs-usman-dar-addressing-the-oath-taking-ceremony-of-tiger-force-at-mehria-marquee-app-photo-by-ghulam-shabbir/
30/ Governor Sindh @ImranIsmailPTI accompanies the Tiger Force walking through a busy market distributing masks and attracting a crowd around him: https://twitter.com/InsafPKTV/status/1272598521221386240
31/ The federal govt's top health official Dr @zfrmrza claims on national television that in most countries covid-19 cases flatten by themselves after 5 months https://twitter.com/awaissaleem77/status/1274609562566512640
https://twitter.com/awaissaleem77/status/1274609562566512640
32/ Minister of State for Climate Change @zartajgulwazir:
- "Covid-19 means there are 19 points that can be applied to any country in any way to develop immunity"
- "It is a flu"
- "Until a vaccine arrives, [Covid-19] will become localised"
- "Covid-19 means there are 19 points that can be applied to any country in any way to develop immunity"
- "It is a flu"
- "Until a vaccine arrives, [Covid-19] will become localised"
33/ This might be the best of the thread so far.
PTI parliamentarian Riaz Fatyana:
"There is a common assumption that eating locusts is an excellent protection against the coronavirus. The govt should research this"
https://twitter.com/SammerAbbas/status/1275709262816313352
PTI parliamentarian Riaz Fatyana:
"There is a common assumption that eating locusts is an excellent protection against the coronavirus. The govt should research this"
https://twitter.com/SammerAbbas/status/1275709262816313352
34/ The federal govt's top health official Dr @zfrmrza on national TV:
The Meteorological Dept has "confirmed" "statistically" to us that the spread of Covid-19 will decrease as the humidity level increases
(No statistics presented though of course) https://twitter.com/SpotlightAajtv/status/1278484127839330305
The Meteorological Dept has "confirmed" "statistically" to us that the spread of Covid-19 will decrease as the humidity level increases
(No statistics presented though of course) https://twitter.com/SpotlightAajtv/status/1278484127839330305
