ISLAMABAD: Pakistan social media users this week mocked Indian media and Twitter users after misinformation widely circulated on Indian mainstream and social media claiming a civil war had broken out in the Pakistani city of Karachi.
On Wednesday, several Indian news outlets including India Today, Zee News, CNN18 and India.com reported a “civil war-like situation,” a day after an inquiry was ordered by army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa into the circumstances surrounding the arrest of opposition leader Mohammad Safdar in Karachi. Many Indians also took to Twitter to spread the ‘fake news.’
Pakistanis turned to the Internet to debunk the rumors and to poke fun at media and social media users in India, a bitter rival and neighbor with whom Pakistan has fought three wars.
Twitter user Taimoor Zamoon posted a video of a toy helicopter landing on a street with the caption:
“Breaking News: Latest Video of Pakistan Army Helicopter Landing on a Road during a clash with Sindh Police at Gulshan-e-Bagh in Karachi.”
Breaking News: Latest Video of Pakistan Army Helicopter Landing on a Road during a clash with Sindh Police at Gulshan-e-Bagh in Karachi. pic.twitter.com/RKpARYQaGx
— Taimoor Zaman (@taimoor_ze) October 21, 2020
One user posted a funny photo and joked that citizens had now joined the civil war and were fighting the Pakistan army:
BREAKING NEWS: WE HAVE VISUALS COMING IN FROM KARACHI SHOWING THAT CITIZENS HAVE NOW JOINED THE CIVIL WAR AND ARE FIGHTING PAK AIR FORCE pic.twitter.com/pOV3MMXDg6
— Ghaura (@ghauraghaura) October 21, 2020
Cultural critic and author Nadeem F Paracha posted: “Breaking News: After civil war in Karachi, Godzilla attacks Lahore. Source: Indian news channels.”
Breaking News: After civil war in Karachi, Godzilla attacks Lahore.
Source: Indian news channels. pic.twitter.com/UY5xqGsIrB
— Nadeem Farooq Paracha (@NadeemfParacha) October 21, 2020
Other users described life under civil war:
“During the civil war in Karachi today I managed to get in a full day of work, got groceries, went to the gym, went to studio, went to see my girlfriend,” Faisal Rafi wrote. “The civil war was pretty chilled I must say.”
during the civil war in Karachi today I managed to get in a full day of work, got groceries, went to the gym, went to studio, went to see my girlfriend, the civil war was pretty chilled I must say, like one of those arty bollywood flicks from the 60’s
— Faisal Rafi (@faisalrafi) October 21, 2020
Writer Bina Shah wrote: “I live in Karachi, where I just did my groceries, visited the bakery, bought some clothes and came home. If there’s a civil war out there I couldn’t find it.”
I live in Karachi, where I just did my groceries, visited the bakery, bought some clothes and came home.
If there's a civil war out there I couldn't find it. https://t.co/L4iFymMf48
— Bina Shah (@BinaShah) October 21, 2020
Singer and actor Fakhr-e-Alam tweeted: “Karachi civil war has gotten so bad that my food panda delivery boy had to crawl through mine fields carrying his AK47, RPG & 9mm along with my nihari and Biryani. This thing is getting so serious.”
Karachi civil war has gotten so bad that my food panda delivery boy had to crawl through mine fields carrying his AK47, RPG & 9mm along with my nihari and Biryani. This thing is getting so serious. Multiple cows have been killed & people are dying of over eating. #IndianMedia
— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) October 21, 2020