PTI terms 'cat' filter faux pas human error

K-P social media team was on the receiving end of online jokes after it streamed a press conference with the filter

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has termed the ‘cat’ filter mistake a human error.

The social media team of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was on the receiving end of online jokes after it streamed a press conference – of provincial ministers – on Facebook with the ‘cat’ filter enabled.

Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai and a Deputy Information Officer Zar Wali were seen live on Facebook stream with cat filter.

A user viewing the live stream pointed out the error and asked admins of the page to “turn of the cat filter as the minister had turned into a cat”. Though, another viewer said Shaukat Yousufzai looks cute. A screenshot of the gaffe went viral on Twitter and Facebook and reactions poured in.

PTI has now issued an official statement on the matter. Taking to Twitter, it read, “Clarification regarding coverage of Press Briefing held by KP’s Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai.”

According to the statement, PTI social media team is deemed to be the pioneers of Social Media in Pakistan. We not only pride ourselves in bringing Pakistani Politics to internet but also feel content in setting high standards of SOPs and etiquette with the help of our dedicated volunteer based SM force. Yesterday, whilst covering a press briefing held by KP's Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai, a 'cat filter' was witnessed by the viewers which was removed within few minutes.

PTI SM Disciplinary committee probed the matter first hand and concluded the incident as "a human error" by one of our hard working volunteer. All necessary actions have been taken to avoid such incident in future with a great emphasis on strict enforcement of SOPs and protocol for live coverage by the ground teams.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2019.