ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has lodged a strong formal protest and formal complaint with BBC Urdu over the publication of “fake news regarding Azad Jammu and Kashmir”, accusing the channel of relying on unverified allegations while ignoring official facts and official statements.
In an article on X, the ministry said the report was based on unverified and uncorroborated claims and did not reflect the official position.
“Unfortunately, this is not the first time such reports have been reported,” he added. “The repeated publication of unverified claims has become a trend and corrective action must be taken.”
Separately, the ministry and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government released detailed fact checks rejecting the BBC Urdu report alleging that police blocked the movement of food, medicine and fuel during the ongoing unrest in the region.
Both dismissed the report as “factually incorrect” and argued there was no truth to the claims of road closures or restrictions on vehicle movement.
According to fact-checking carried out by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, building a report around an anonymous source’s statement without credible verification gives the appearance of advancing a particular narrative.
The AJK government’s fact-check specifically rejected BBC Urdu’s claim that police arrested civilians carrying food, medicine and fuel, calling it contrary to facts.
He said the report’s title and central allegation was based entirely on an anonymous source and that it contained no video evidence, independent testimony or official statements to support the claim.
The AJK government further maintained that there was no truth in the allegations regarding roadblocks or restrictions on vehicular movement, adding that highways in the region remained open for traffic.
He also pointed out that in a joint press conference held on June 23, the AJK chief secretary and the inspector general of police had categorically denied the allegations regarding road closures.
According to the fact check, all the disruptions observed on the roads were caused by protesters belonging to the banned Action Committee, who allegedly attempted to stop and loot vehicles carrying essential goods.
He said law enforcement acted quickly to protect vehicles and their goods while ensuring roads remained open and traffic continued.
The federal ministry and the AJK government have urged international media organizations to adhere to professional journalistic standards and refrain from publishing unverified, misleading and baseless information.
In related news, the AJK Police Chief warned domestic and foreign citizens against misinformation and AI-generated content, urging them to rely on official sources for information in a “hybrid warfare” environment.
Addressing a press conference, Inspector General of Police Captain (retd) Liaqat Ali Malik said all entry points into AJK remained open to all types of traffic, including vehicles carrying essential commodities, and dismissed reports suggesting otherwise.
He urged overseas Pakistanis, especially members of the Kashmiri diaspora in the UK and Europe, to verify information through authentic government media and social media platforms.
“All major entry points into the country, including Kohala, Azad Pattan and Bararkot, are open to all types of traffic without any intervention except routine security checks as part of police protocols,” he said.
Malik alleged that activists of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) erected barriers at some places and attacked or seized trucks loaded with goods, adding that law enforcement agencies regularly cleared roads and facilitated movement.
Referring to a recent BBC Urdu report, Malik claimed that the report was based on unverified allegations and published without seeking the government’s version, despite the availability of official contact channels.
“We can say that this article is far from reality [ ]” he said.
