A social media post by former PTI leader Nadeem Afzal Chan recently stirred controversy after he alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had authorized the release of Rs27 million from the provincial government for new tires for her bulletproof Mercedes.
Chan, who has since rejoined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), shared the claim online, asserting that Rs27.3 million had been approved through the Ministry of Finance for this purpose. Along with the claim, he attached a government notification and captioned his post, “Flood victims seek justice,” sparking outrage among users.
However, social media users were quick to identify flaws in his post. Many pointed out that the notification he shared was outdated and did not contain Maryam Nawaz’s name. It was, in fact, an older government document from 2020 that had been misrepresented in his attempt to criticize the current Punjab chief minister.
The misleading post led to a wave of criticism against Chan himself, with users mocking his oversight and accusing him of spreading misinformation. One user commented, “This notification is from 2020, Maryam Nawaz’s name isn’t mentioned anywhere, and though you left the Youthiya Party, the ‘virus’ hasn’t left you.”
The incident has reignited debates over the role of social media in shaping public opinion and the responsibility of political figures to verify information before sharing it. While the post was intended to raise questions about government spending, it instead highlighted the dangers of relying on unverified or outdated documents.
This episode underscores how quickly misinformation can spread online and serves as a reminder of the importance of fact-checking to ensure accurate reporting and accountability in political discourse.
For more details, read Punjab CM’s Office Requests Rs. 27.2 Million For VVIP Mercedes Maintenance
