Fact-Check: Was Bilawal Welcomed By ‘Jiye Bhutto’ Slogans At Masjid-e-Nabvi?

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2022-04-30T17:24:28+05:00 News Desk
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s social media team and supporters have been circulating a doctored video of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto as he entered Masjid-e-Nabvi, to falsely suggest that 'Jiye Bhutto' slogans were chanted by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) supporters.

The video shows an unidentified man in Madina, who is making the video, point the camera towards Bilawal Bhutto, who is accompanied by security guards, as they pass a crowd of people. In the doctored video, the crowd starts to chant 'Jiye Bhutto' and 'Long live the prime minister', and Bilawal appears to smile back at them as he walks by.

However, the original video shows a much calmer crowd, and no sloganeering or even heckling is heard.

https://twitter.com/ibrohi31/status/1520155401240592384

Social media users are criticizing the doctored video, saying the sanctity of holy places must be respected, and political agendas should not be bought into such spaces.

In a tweet, journalist Waseem Abbasi said, "Fact check: How are people trying to hide their disrespect by putting fake slogans in the video of Bilawal Bhutto's Masjid Nabavi (SAW). Can a state of Madinah be formed through fraud? There is no fear of Allah that they are bringing holy place in this movement. Who are these forgers?"

The fake video appears to be in response to the recent incident that took place in Madina, where members of the government's official delegation to Saudi Arabia were harassed by crowds of PTI supporters, who chanted 'Chor Chor' (thief thief) at them.

Saudi security agencies have arrested the five Pakistani's in connection to the incident, as per a statement by the Saudi embassy. While they have not disclosed what further actions will be taken against the five, widespread media reports suggest a fine of 60,000 Riyals, five months in jail, and a permanent ban for life is likely the punishment for violation of sanctity of the mosque.
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