PPP lawmaker Nafisa Shah has termed the viral claim that the Sindh government spent Rs80 billion on a zoo in Khairpur as a fabricated story, alleging it was part of a coordinated misinformation campaign targeting the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), its leadership, and the Sindh government.
She said the claim, which circulated across Threads, X, Instagram, and other social media platforms, was shared without evidence and was later deleted by several accounts after it was challenged.
Khuhro said the Municipal Committee Khairpur issued an official clarification and filed a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) over the false claim.
While welcoming the removal of the posts, she argued that deleting misinformation does not undo the damage caused to public trust and reputations, and called for greater accountability under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to address the spread of fake news.
#TOKAlert #PPP #KhairpurZoo #NCCIA
What follows below is a case study in how fake news is manufactured, amplified, and consumed in the age of social media with total impunity.
A fabricated story is created, shared, debated, and rapidly spread across platforms. Within hours, thousands engage with it, attracted by the scandal, outrage, and controversy it generates. In the process, reputations are damaged, public institutions are undermined, political leaders are vilified, and public trust is eroded. Then, as facts gradually emerge and expose the story as entirely false, those responsible quietly disappear from the conversation. There is no accountability, no apology, and no acknowledgment of the harm caused. At most, a post is deleted and the perpetrators move on. For a brief moment, they assume the roles of judge, jury, and executioner; when proven wrong, they simply walk away as though none of it ever mattered.
Five days ago, on 29th June, a self-proclaimed journalist, an account named ‘Asma’ , circulated a fabricated and engineered story on #Threads, claiming that the #PPP government had spent Rs. 80 billion on a #zoo in #Khairpur—my constituency—that did not even exist. Without presenting a shred of evidence, she brazenly used the claim as an opportunity to make derogatory remarks about the #PakistanPeoplesParty (PPP), our leadership, and our #Sindhi identity. Unsurprisingly, no proof accompanied the allegations because none existed.
The video was subsequently shared on X (formerly Twitter) by another account whose activity appears to be aligned with the #PMLN. The misinformation was then amplified by the #Instagram page #DialoguePakistan and other social media accounts, some of which accompanied the false story with photographs of PPP Chairman @BBhuttoZardari
alongside the so-called journalist.
The story was entirely false, defamatory, and clearly designed to target the #PPP, its leadership snd Sindh Government.
In response, the #MunicipalCommittee (MC) #Khairpur issued an official press statement and lodged a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (#NCCIA).
Today, almost all of the accounts involved—most notably person who initiated the false narrative—have deleted their posts. While the damage caused by misinformation cannot always be fully undone, this outcome demonstrates the importance of challenging falsehoods with facts. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the #PPP social media activists, especially the #Khairpur team, whose tireless efforts over the past several days played a crucial role in exposing this fabrication. Through their persistence, dedication, and commitment to the truth, every major platform and individual involved in spreading this misinformation was compelled to remove the false content. Their work serves as a reminder that while lies may travel fast, determined and collective efforts can still ensure that the truth prevails.
However, while the posts may have been deleted, the damage caused to the party, its leadership, and public institutions cannot simply be undone. Falsehoods were spread widely, reputations were attacked, and public opinion was deliberately manipulated. The individuals responsible have chosen to quietly erase their posts, apparently out of fear of legal consequences rather than any genuine recognition of the harm they caused. An apology would be welcome, &I sincerely hope those involved have the decency to offer one. But the larger question remains: should those who knowingly concoct and disseminate fake news be allowed to escape accountability merely by deleting a post? The question then is how effective are the PECA laws in checking lethal misinformation. If fake news carries no consequences, then the cycle of fabrication, outrage, and deception will continue unchecked, to the detriment of our public discourse and democratic institutions. As a legislator I hope to pursue these questions in the parliament and in the committees in due course. #FakeNewsAlert
Today we are reminded of #5thJuly 1977, that dark chapter in our history when an elected #PrimeMinister#ShaheedZulfiqarAliBhutto was ousted by a tinpot dictator, and when the grave crime of derailing democracy and the constitution was committed. This dictatorship led to loss of #Pakistans great leader, it destroyed institutions and embroiled the country in war. Let us work towards strengthening civilian institutions and peoples power, that is imperative if the country is to move forward #Democracy #PeoplesPower
@Aadiiroy2 خیرپور چڑیا گھر کی یہ اربوں روپے والی کہانی صرف جھوٹ پر مبنی ہے، پٹواریوں کو خواب میں بھی صرف عرب ہی یاد ہوتے ہیں 😜
خیرپور چڑیاگھر کے لیئے پہلےفیز میں صرف 2کروڑ روپے کے قریب ہی خرچ ہوئے تھے، جس میں بائونڈری وال کی تعمیر اور نشیبی زمین کی وجہ سے ارتھ فلنگ ہوئی تھی،
@Aadiiroy2 میونسپل کمیٹی خیرپور کی سرکاری پریس ریلیز نے واضح کر دیا ہے کہ آپ کا 80 ارب روپے والا دعویٰ حقیقت کے برعکس تھا۔
اگر واقعی سچائی کا احترام ہے تو اپنی گمراہ کن پوسٹ واپس لیں اور عوام سے کھلے دل کے ساتھ معذرت کریں۔ اختلاف رائے اپنی جگہ، مگر جھوٹ پر سیاست زیادہ دیر نہیں چلتی۔
خاتونِ اوّل بی بی آصفہ بھٹو زرداری سے ایوانِ صدر میں پرائم ہسپتال ہیلتھ کیئر فیسلٹی (پی ایچ ایچ ایف) کے چیف ایگزیکٹو آفیسر ڈاکٹر شہزاد شفیق موسوی نے ملاقات کی۔ اس موقع پر انہیں بچوں میں کلب فُٹ کی پیدائشی معذوری کے علاج سے متعلق جاری اقدامات اور پیش رفت پر تفصیلی بریفنگ دی گئی۔
شہید رانی محترمہ بینظیر بھٹو اور صدر پاکستان آصف علی زرداری کی صاحبزادی ، خاتون اول محترمہ بی بی آصفہ بھٹو زرداری سے پیپلزپارٹی کی مرکزی رہنما، ایم این اے ڈاکٹر نفیسہ شاہ قومی اسمبلی حال میں محو گفتگو ۔
@AseefaBZ@ShahNafisa
Many thanks to all the party workers, friends, family, and well wishers for your wonderful birthday wishes. I am truly honoured, humbled and very grateful for making my day so special and memorable. #BirthdayWishes
Am thankful to the party leadership, #PPP
and to the #Speaker of the National Assembly for entrusting me the responsibility to chair the special committee on gender mainstreaming. Gender gap in Pakistan is pervasive and women continue to lag behind in access to equal rights, or equal opportunities in health, education, jobs, property and even politics. Women are not integrated in the economy as they should be, they are invisible in public offices. Unless equality is not enforced with a mission, Pakistan will not realise its full potential as a nation, economically, or socially. I hope that in this committee, which includes very strong and committed women - and men, including Shaista Pervaiz, Munazza Hasan, both former Secretaries of the caucus, Shahida Akhtar Ali, Senator Sadia Abbasi, Hussain Tariq Shah, Barister Aqeel Malik, Arbab Sher Ali, Senator Khalida Ateeq, Senator Rubina Qaimkhani and Senator Fauzia Arshad, we will be able to set ourself an agenda for changing the business as usual approach as far as women of Pakistan are concerned and set everyone to work towards closing the gaping gender gap in all fields.
Happy Birthday to Pakistans youngest leader @BBhuttoZardari
taking forward a strong legacy of courage, perseverance and struggle for social justice, for rule of law and constitutionalism. The party is a keeper of historical memories of struggles of its great leaders and stands with him in his endeavour to fulfil the mission for a true peoples’ manifesto envisioning an equal, just, democratic united and prosperous #Pakistan. #HBDChairmanBBZ
Had a meeting with the Italian Consul General @danilogiurdanel , in Karachi. We discussed issues concerning the Christian community, education, and the current political situation in Pakistan.
I believe this meeting will yield many positive results in the future. Additionally, I presented him with a Sindhi Ajrak and a topi. @BBhuttoZardari@AseefaBZ
اسلام آباد: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری سے بینظیر انکم سپورٹ پروگرام کی چیئرپرسن منتخب ہونے کے بعد سینیٹر روبینہ خالد نے زرداری ہاؤس میں ملاقات کی اور ان پر اعتماد کرنے پر شکریہ ادا کیا۔
@BBhuttoZardari@RubinakhalidPPP