Fake news about attack on Nawaz creates stir

Party activist deletes tweet shortly after hurling allegations on PTI 'goons' on social media

A tweet by a PML-N leader about an alleged attack on PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif in London created quite a stir. However, it later turned out that the news was incorrect.

“PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf] goons this evening attacked Mian Nawaz Sharif’s vehicle. Nawaz Sharif is fine and unhurt. Alhamdulillah. The attacker has been arrested and is in police custody,” PML-N activist Khurram Butt wrote on Twitter on Sunday.

He also shared pictures of Nawaz’s vehicle and a man being taken away by police. After this tweet, some Pakistani TV channels claimed that the attack on the former prime minister took place at a cafe in Central London on Saturday evening.

It later transpired that Nawaz was present on Bond Street in London along with his two bodyguards and driver when a confrontation broke out between the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protestors and the police. The BLM activists had organised a picket to advocate for their rights.

Nawaz’s car was parked nearby and one of the BLM protestors threw coffee at the vehicle during a clash with the police, as the police arrested one activist. The footage showed one man being taken away by police wearing a white hazmat suit carrying Black Lives Matter slogans.

Later, Khurram Butt deleted his tweet.