Read on Twitter
Heres a thread about @Benazir_Shah's Covid19 coverage, which she claims was so critical of the govt, the state had to unleash trolls to abuse her into silence.
The truth is, her reporting was often completely infactual, and more often than not highly sensationalised.
The truth is, her reporting was often completely infactual, and more often than not highly sensationalised.
Lets start with the most recent obsession, trying to prove Covid deaths are being underreported
This groundbreaking piece claimed state is hiding true toll of pandemic. Her Geo article basically just tells you that people died in the middle of a pandemic https://twitter.com/Benazir_Shah/status/1285137194240348161?s=19
This groundbreaking piece claimed state is hiding true toll of pandemic. Her Geo article basically just tells you that people died in the middle of a pandemic https://twitter.com/Benazir_Shah/status/1285137194240348161?s=19
But heres what she hid from her readers.
That during a pandemic, people die from other causes too.
I broke down the entire article here. Many people corrected her awful math. She never retracted her statement or fixed the error in the article https://twitter.com/haleemak_/status/1285399476992126976?s=19
That during a pandemic, people die from other causes too.
I broke down the entire article here. Many people corrected her awful math. She never retracted her statement or fixed the error in the article https://twitter.com/haleemak_/status/1285399476992126976?s=19
This is how terrible her reporting is, people are forced to fix her math errors for her in the comments. Remember when she thought deaths at one particular graveyard doubled, but according to math, the increase was 31%? She didn't bother to correct herself https://twitter.com/has_hosh/status/1285172958571442176?s=19
Then, confusion regarding test positivity rate which i blame Benazir & the likes for creating
She claimed Pak's 14% positivity rate in June, when epidemic was still growing, was "too high"
But heres what she hid. This is criteria to judge when epidemic is controlled & declining
She claimed Pak's 14% positivity rate in June, when epidemic was still growing, was "too high"
But heres what she hid. This is criteria to judge when epidemic is controlled & declining
According to WHO criteria, test positivity % needs to be less than 5% for TWO WEEKS when COMPREHENSIVE surveillance is being carried out.
Benazir mentions this in her tweet, but went ahead and shared DAILY positivity stats to support her unfounded claim https://twitter.com/Benazir_Shah/status/1268565148215762945?s=20
Benazir mentions this in her tweet, but went ahead and shared DAILY positivity stats to support her unfounded claim https://twitter.com/Benazir_Shah/status/1268565148215762945?s=20
Heres what she hid.
A very low test positivity % would have meant authorities are wasting tests, not looking for the virus in the right place
I politely engaged w Benazir to correct her, even shared these minutes from a WHO meeting where its stated how & when to use this metric
A very low test positivity % would have meant authorities are wasting tests, not looking for the virus in the right place
I politely engaged w Benazir to correct her, even shared these minutes from a WHO meeting where its stated how & when to use this metric
She tried to be really clever with this, passing off scientific fact as Bilawal's idiotic ziada baarish ziada paani statement.
Trick to reduce infections is to reduce number of ppl who come in contact with each other, thus reducing chance of transmission https://twitter.com/Benazir_Shah/status/1281148049037942784?s=19
Trick to reduce infections is to reduce number of ppl who come in contact with each other, thus reducing chance of transmission https://twitter.com/Benazir_Shah/status/1281148049037942784?s=19
Just because IK said something doesn't automatically make it wrong
But you know what is? When Benazir compared Pak's deaths to China's, & total cases with Italy
This was wrong. China & Italy had head start at pandemic. China had flattened curve by then, Italy was in delay phase
But you know what is? When Benazir compared Pak's deaths to China's, & total cases with Italy
This was wrong. China & Italy had head start at pandemic. China had flattened curve by then, Italy was in delay phase
Pak, a country with 3 times population of Italy & a completely different epidemic timeline, was in 'mitigate' phase, where number of cases were still growing. Look at chart below.
Compare peaks of each country, and tell me is it honest reporting to compare stats of the three?
Compare peaks of each country, and tell me is it honest reporting to compare stats of the three?
This is an example of Benazir's reporting in 4 screenshots
She shared a story from @TheCurrentPK without verifying if it was fake or real.
She shared a story from @TheCurrentPK without verifying if it was fake or real.
Here are more example of the trolling and abuse she receives, which is actually people just pointing out the flaws in her reporting
Just scroll through the comments yourself. You'll be surprised at *how many* people call her out with facts
Just scroll through the comments yourself. You'll be surprised at *how many* people call her out with facts
What a difference a month makes! Will I be called a troll if I call Benazir a proper phaphay kutni 
because I'm sorry she is
because I'm sorry she is
Not gonna do a 50000 word thread to mention how wrong this is because even Wikipedia is a great source to learn abt R0.
-R0 is calculated at start of epidemic
-Assumes every person is susceptible to disease -Once interventions put in place, you cant talk abt R0
- based on models
-R0 is calculated at start of epidemic
-Assumes every person is susceptible to disease -Once interventions put in place, you cant talk abt R0
- based on models
Nobody can just "increase" or "decrease" R0 as per their will
Herd immunity threshold for Covid-19? Still being debated, but scientists believe it will achieved when 60-80% of population is immune. But remember, we dont even know how long immunity to Covid-19 lasts!
Herd immunity threshold for Covid-19? Still being debated, but scientists believe it will achieved when 60-80% of population is immune. But remember, we dont even know how long immunity to Covid-19 lasts!
I want to move back to data. Benazir wasnt trying to highlight discrepancies in data for no reason. Covid cases & mortality were decreasing & they needed a new spin. How can PTI govt do anything right? Theyre hiding something!
Let me talk you through a few loopholes she mentions
Let me talk you through a few loopholes she mentions
But read this before.
The CDC website is clear: It can take up to weeks for data to be submitted, processed, coded, and tabulated. Data is CONTINUALLY REVISED if need be
Every country struggled with collecting real time data. Pakistan is no exception. https://twitter.com/haleemak_/status/1287410987725881344?s=19
The CDC website is clear: It can take up to weeks for data to be submitted, processed, coded, and tabulated. Data is CONTINUALLY REVISED if need be
Every country struggled with collecting real time data. Pakistan is no exception. https://twitter.com/haleemak_/status/1287410987725881344?s=19
Look at the MINOR discrepancies she has tried so hard to highlight
A decrease of ONE DEATH, from 10 to *gasp* a mind boggling NINE?! And no explanation offered for this??!!
Yeah.. these were probably just errors which were fixed along the way. Totally normal, not news worthy.
A decrease of ONE DEATH, from 10 to *gasp* a mind boggling NINE?! And no explanation offered for this??!!
Yeah.. these were probably just errors which were fixed along the way. Totally normal, not news worthy.
The "trolling" she received as a result. People were quick to point out there weren't actually any discrepancies to begin with.
When she tried to... okay, I'm not even gonna bother with this. I'll just leave an example of the abuse a troll hurled at her, while also pointing out the obvious. Which is that.... this is just bad reporting 
how long do you think you can continue to fool the awaam?
how long do you think you can continue to fool the awaam?
