A graphic circulating on social media in Pakistan claims that the Punjab government has announced a public holiday to commemorate the death anniversary of Khadim Hussain Rizvi, former leader of the far-right political party, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan.
The claim is baseless.
Claim
On November 19, a graphic began circulating on social media and in WhatsApp groups, claiming that the Punjab government has announced a holiday on November 21 to mark the death anniversary of Khadim Hussain Rizvi.
“A public holiday has been announced in Lahore on November 21 for the death anniversary of Khadim Hussain Rizvi,” reads a purported post on Geo Television’s Facebook account.
The screenshot also includes a link to the alleged news report.
The graphic has led many social media users to believe the claim is true.
Fact
The Punjab government has made no such announcement, and Geo Television has not reported any such news.
The circulating screenshot of the news report is fabricated.
Geo Fact Check found no such post on Geo Television’s Facebook account on November 18 or 19. Moreover, the link included in the screenshot directs to an unrelated report dated November 18, titled “A Chinese Trader in Afghanistan Embraces Islam by Reciting the Kalima.”
You can read the report here.
Additionally, a spokesperson for the media organisation confirmed to Geo Fact Check that no such report was published or aired, as well as that the post was fabricated.
Punjab’s information minister also confirmed to Geo Fact Check that no such public holiday has been announced by the provincial government.
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