Lies We live By: The culture of fake news in Pakistan

Opening Remarks

Throughout the history of Pakistan, in particular, and the subcontinent, in general, fake news and propaganda have had a consistent standing.

The historical use of stories has had a far-reaching impact in shaping public opinion in Pakistan. The stories have greatly contributed to spreading misinformation until now, intensified by media in the modern age.

Social media, clergy, and media influencers are all equal participants in spreading misinformation. And this has largely dented public trust and the social fabric.

The way forward lies in increased literacy, regulation of news spread, and instilling critical thinking skills in youth.

Historical Perspective

Historically, fake news has been spread on three triggers—religion, politics, and fear—in Pakistan and the pre-Pakistani subcontinent. Some notable instances of fake news in the religious arena were spread by followers of Sufi saints through stories. They spread stories of saints walking on water, traveling with the speed of an eye-blink, and seeing deep through the earth’s bottom with naked eyes.

These stories were disguised under divine authorization, backed by mere claims by sectarian clergy. Out of fear of being regarded as blasphemous, people did not attempt to question or verify these claims, further consolidating the positions of religious leaders as so-called spokespersons of God.

Obviously, no one could bear the brunt of the consequences of questioning religious authority, which was considered tantamount to questioning divine authority (a fear posed by clergy). The political dimension is also intertwined with religion. Political rule was often legitimized by religious clergy through the creation and selective application of religious stories. Rulers were legitimized as divinely chosen on earth (true in itself) but without acknowledging the rights of the ruled and responsibilities of the ruler.

Half-truth is more dangerous than a lie because it creates frustration and confusion among the masses about truth and falsehood. Fake news has been so ingrained in Pakistani society that people do not even concern themselves with verifying and fact-checking before multiplying it. And now the cage of media has conflagrated this wave of fake news and propaganda, manipulating illiterate and vulnerable individuals.

Why Fake News Finds Fertile Ground in Pakistan

There are myriads of reasons why fake news is deeply entrenched in Pakistani culture, which has both natural and cultural roots. Naturally, humans tend to believe news that confirms their pre-existing biases, ignoring contradictory facts. Secondly, emotional bias makes it more likely for people to watch and forward news immediately. A third natural factor is comfortability. It takes effort to verify and fact-check news, so most people are likely to avoid this effort and believe the information.

On the other hand, there are some cultural reasons for widespread misinformation. Lack of education and critical thinking cripples individuals’ faculty to verify information. Illiterate and uncritical people are often the most loyal followers of media influencers and religious scholars, making them prone to manipulation through oral speeches or stories. In cultures such as Pakistan, rumors often mix with news and get accepted as truth.

Another cultural reason is the respect for authority and elders. In Pakistani culture, anything said by an elder is considered a word of wisdom without considering the fact that an illiterate and ignorant person grows old too. Moreover, if a half-read and ignorant so-called "Aalim" says something, it is considered a close-ended religious order that followers are obliged to follow, based on their interpretation of religious texts.

Religious sensitivity is yet another factor adding a layer to the easy spread of fake stories. As pointed out by Aldous Huxley, "Being too rational in a country of insane does not make oneself king, he gets lynched."

In Pakistan, anything can be sold under a religious banner and gain immediate credibility. News tied to faith and blasphemy accusations spreads faster than any other news, and questioning its credibility is socially risky. Conspiracy theories are also considered true in the spread of fake news due to bitter experiences of colonization and American interventions.

In Pakistan, people are more prone to believe any event linked to conspiracies led by the West. For instance, the conspiracy theory about the POLIO vaccine—that it makes children infertile—is widely accepted. Another conspiracy theory about the COVID vaccine claimed it was a Western attempt to implant digital chips to control individuals. Additionally, there are a multitude of reasons why fake news is prevalent in Pakistan on such a large scale.

Cost Inflicted by Culture of Fake News

Fake news has inflicted severe damage on the social fabric of Pakistan, jeopardizing lives and assets of people. Mob lynching cases fueled by misinformation and disinformation have heightened recently. Common people are motivated by illiterate religious and political leaders to become part of mob justice backed by false accusations.

Many innocent lives have been lost in such violent incidents. Initially, the perpetrators are entitled "Ghazi" by the illiterate mob but later criminalized and hanged to death by courts. These ignorant masses, backed by ignorant clergy, do not even know the sanctity of human life, the taking of which the Quran translates as killing the whole of humanity. This fact exposes the level of extremism and radicalization in Pakistani society.

Moreover, mob justice undermines the court's ability to adjudicate because mob justice is immediate. This fact jeopardizes social peace. In the words of Jaun Elia, "Everyone is threatened by everyone" (Sab Ko Sab Hi Se Khatra He). Furthermore, misinformation and disinformation polarize society on various lines. Fake news regarding different ethnicities disguises ethnic grievances and intensifies ethnic fragmentation. It also divides society on minority and majority lines.

One notable example is that of Kamran Maseeh, who, during a recent conflict with India, was publicly considered a pilot who damaged Indian aircraft. As a result, during the presidential award ceremony, he was not awarded any medal, which outraged minority groups. But the reality later uncovered that Kamran Maseeh wasn’t even a pilot. He was a technician. A whole story was fabricated on baseless claims backed by misinformation.

In short, Pakistani society is facing severe challenges because of the uncontrolled spread of fake news, which requires comprehensive redressal.

Breaking the Cycle

The first and foremost solution lies in education in tandem with critical thinking. Individuals must become media literate and be able to evaluate information on their own—whether something is possible to happen or not. Critical thinking must be integrated as a subject at the very early stage of education. It must equip learners to navigate the complex landscape in the age of information.

Additionally, the government must intervene in regulating the spread of misinformation and criminalizing the perpetrators. The state is often selective in penalizing individuals spreading disinformation against itself; nonetheless, the state must propel its efforts to disrupt fake news outlets comprehensively.

Moreover, independent fact-checker platforms must be established proportional to the amount of information. Every viral news item must be filtered through fact-checkers and then posted through verified sources. These are some non-negotiable solutions that must be realized and carried out on a priority basis.

Closing Remarks

To sum up everything that has been discussed so far, misinformation and disinformation are threatening menaces for Pakistani society, adding to its non-traditional security threats. Both public and government must first join hands to realize this conundrum and then act collectively to disrupt it. It is high time to own this peril, break the cycle and manipulation of ignorance, and curb it with concrete and viable measures.

Point to Ponder

"In a society where questioning authority is equated with disrespect or disloyality, how can truth ever find its way into the public discourse?"