KEY POINTS
- Viral claims about ISI ex-chief detention found baseless.
- Rumours originated from Shahbaz Gill’s viral vlog.
- Shaheen Sehbai tweeted Gill’s vlog as a “great scoop.”
- False claims targeted Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum and daughter.
- Alleged raid, device seizure, and questioning at “733 FIC” fabricated.
- Parallel fake reports targeted Maj Gen Faisal Naseer.
- Fake tweet attributed to Zahid Farooq Malik confirmed non-existent.
- Doctored visuals, “Breaking News” graphics fuelled disinformation spread.
- Digital analysts traced both genuine amplification and coordinated manipulation.
- Security sources rejected all claims, calling them completely false.
- Public advised to verify news before sharing, warnings issued.
ISLAMABAD: A fresh wave of disinformation targeting Pakistan’s military leadership has been found to be baseless, according to cybersecurity sources, who on Saturday described viral claims regarding the detention of former Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen (Retd) Nadeem Anjum and serving officer Maj Gen Faisal Naseer as “fake, baseless, and malicious.”
The rumours originated from a vlog by PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, gaining rapid traction across X (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp. Their reach expanded significantly after a US-based journalist, Shaheen Sehbai — notoriously known for spreading bounced-back news and publishing wishful narratives critical of the Pakistan Army — tweeted Gill’s vlog, calling it a “great scoop,” helping the narrative penetrate mainstream political discourse.
The story was further exaggerated by manipulated screenshots, fabricated commentary, and sensational text overlays.
What the Viral Rumours Claimed
The disinformation campaign centred on two major false allegations. The first involved a fabricated claim about Lt Gen (Retd) Nadeem Anjum’s supposed detention.
Posts circulating after Shahbaz Gill’s vlog alleged without evidence that the former ISI chief and his daughter, Laraib Nadeem, had been “picked up” by Military Intelligence from their Chaklala residence.
These posts even invented operational details, including a fictitious raid, confiscation of devices, and questioning at the so-called “733 FIC.”
The second strand targeted Maj Gen Faisal Naseer, with parallel posts and doctored visuals claiming he had been detained or placed “under accountability.”
How the Disinformation Spread
Digital analysts have mapped the rumour’s trajectory to a combination of genuine amplification and coordinated manipulation. A real tweet by Shaheen Sehbai praising Gill’s vlog significantly amplified the rumour, giving it an appearance of credibility.
At the same time, a screenshot circulating online, purportedly showing a tweet by journalist Zahid Farooq Malik endorsing the alleged detentions, was found to be fake, as the WE News English fact-check confirmed that no such tweet existed on Malik’s X handle.
The campaign was further fuelled by additional manipulated graphics, including “Breaking News” templates, unrelated photographs, and dramatic text overlays, all designed to create a false sense of urgency and institutional crisis.
Security sources have rejected all claims of raids, detentions, or disciplinary measures against any of the officers mentioned, stressing that there is “zero truth” to the reports.
“This is a textbook case of propaganda warfare,” a security analyst noted. “The objective is to demoralise the public and manufacture an illusion of instability within an institution where no such issue exists.”
Authorities have advised the public to verify information through trusted and official news outlets before sharing unverified content, warning that spreading fabricated news about state institutions is a punishable offence under Pakistan’s digital media laws.
