Nawaz Sharif’s return was a momentous occasion yesterday. Whatever side you were on, politically, seeing one of the country’s most high profile politician return from abroad to face conviction and jail is a historic moment that probably hasn’t ever happened in Pakistan, like this before.
Regardless, what a night it was, last night, eh?
Everyone was eagerly anticipating the events post Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz’s return
Jehaz kab utray ga? jaagay rehnay k liye 3 coffees pee chuka hun k agar footage milay to Nawaz ko handcuffs mai daik sakun (don't think it's likely but one can hope).
— Yet Another Digital Dehshatgard (@AkhtarPaawa) July 13, 2018
When nawaz sharif and maryam nawaz are coming back . . .
Pakistani people: pic.twitter.com/FInkv6aQ3P— 🐻 (@NotCuddleBear) July 13, 2018
There was a lot of speculation and conspiracy theories were aplenty
Passengers who were coming with flight of Nawaz Sharif are canceling booking because they think that flight will be diverted towards Islamabad or Peshawar instead of Lahore.
— Anas (@Anaslqbal) July 13, 2018
People were sharing videos of how despite containers and blockages supporters of the Sharifs were reaching Lahore in droves to “welcome” them
Lahore’s cell phone services were blocked and entry/exit points blocked or manned by security personnel to avoid public gatherings and any sort of security situation that may occur as a result.
If I were in Lahore, I would have joined PML-N workers to welcome Nawaz Shareef. Historic Day in Pakistan's history.
— Saleem (@memzarma) July 13, 2018
One such speculative comment was made by Reham Khan who herself has been a part of headlines because of her recently released autobiography that illustrates her life, particularly her relationship with former husband, Imran Khan
The 5 lakh motorbikes that were promised for a dharna in 2014 turned up today in Lahore.
😉 https://t.co/Jzu1jjJ8Mn— Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) July 13, 2018
Unfortunately, the video that Ms. Khan shared was not of Lahore or supporters of Nawaz Sharif arriving in the city for his support
And the original poster was quick to point that out.
https://twitter.com/aap__ki__tareef/status/1017804967745384449
The video is, in fact, of thousands of people marching in London to protest US President Donald Trump’s first visit to the UK
Interestingly, this incident was happening at the same time as the return of Nawaz Sharif and his daughter from the UK and the energy around the world was reverberating with politically charged people.
Thousands join #TrumpProtest in London's Regent Street as #TrumpVisitUK continues
Follow our coverage: https://t.co/BlLsEwC8Y6 pic.twitter.com/35VZmL4mTt
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) July 13, 2018
People began calling Reham out for falling for fake news
Coincidentally, this term has been popularized by Donald Trump calling out news media that he allegedly didn’t agree with.
Is it Lahore?? You in your senses??
— Dr. Nabeel Alvi (@RphNabeel) July 13, 2018
Your book is also a fiction just as this Mall Road video
— Ali Atif Saeed (@aliatifsaeed) July 13, 2018
Mam…. Ye london mn trump k khilaf rally hai… Plz dlt it
— احمد (@Ustad_Jii) July 13, 2018
And there were more conspiracy theories, this time about the intention behind the tweet
https://twitter.com/pakhistory47/status/1017857119557570560
So, did Reham Khan really fall for fake news?
Apparently she did not. She tweeted to one person calling her out and stated that she was in fact being sarcastic when she made her comment.
It was meant to be sarcasm #Sigh https://t.co/JpeAMXqbf5
— Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) July 13, 2018
So there you have it, whether you believe she was being sarcastic from the start or whether she was covering it up after realizing the truth when people started calling her out, Reham Khan has clarified her stance on the tweet.
