Video of protest by Pakistan against taxes in 2017 and not government policies for 2023
This video has been viewed over 400,000 times. The false claim that it shows protests from the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan against various government measures was made in January 2023. The video shows scenes from protests against taxation that were imposed in 2017, despite the fact that there were real demonstrations in the area in January.
This video was shared here On Twitter, January 5, 2023. It has been viewed over 232,000 times.
“Protest against GB Government & CM GB, land grabbing and deductions in Wheat Quota, and unavailability/electricity entered into 9th-day,” the caption in English reads.
“Despite the fact that it is -16 degrees Celsius, a large number of people are taking part in the demonstration. Our Media ignores #GB_strike
The video shows people marching along a street, chanting and marching.
Screenshot of the fake post. Screenshot taken January 17, 2023.
This video was circulated online and made false claims about residents of Pakistan. Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Region protested against austerity measures, taxation and alleged land grabbing, Dawn News reported. reported On January 9, 2023
Awami Action Com Gilgit Baltistan, a protest group, has been updating its website with information about the demonstrations Facebook page Since the beginning of January.
While Pakistan has been the administrator of GB since 1947 (and it still does), it is not a province and is in a larger territorial dispute over Kashmir with arch-rival India. reported.
Pakistan’s economy has crumbled A simmering political crisis has seen the rupee plunge and inflation rise to decades-high levels. Meanwhile, severe floods have intensified pressure and there is a serious shortage of energy.
The video was also shared via Twitter along with another false claim. here, here, here And hereFacebook here.
It was also shared here Al Arabiya, a Dubai-based news channel, made a similar claim.
The video doesn’t show any recent protest.
Protest against taxation
Google performed a reverse image and keyword search to find a match video shared. here On Twitter, December 26, 2017, Shabbir Mir (Gilgit-based journalist)
“Chalo chalo Gilgit chalo” [come on Gilgit, let’s go] is protest rally organised in Skardu today.Its (sic) part of the #AntiTaxMovement launched by traders and #AwamiActionCommittee to force govt to undo taxes till #GB representation in parliament,” the English-language caption reads.
Below is a screenshot of the video in false posts (left), and the 2017 clip. (right)
Below is a screenshot of the video in false posts (left) and the 2017 version (right).
The video was also shared here In a December 2017 social media post, the caption was similar about a Gilgit tax protest.
Dawn News reported on the protests at that time and used an image showing scenes similar to those in the false posts.
Dawn’s report states that protestors marched against tax levy at Gilgit’s Yadgar Chowk.
It reads, “GB citizens had been paying taxes as those in other parts the country, but they didn’t enjoy all the rights of citizens of the country.”
Below is a comparison of the video from the false posts (left), and the image published by Dawn News (right).
Comparison of the video in the fake posts (left) with the photo in Dawn News (right).
You can see the same spot from another angle here In a user’s Google Maps photo.
Below is a comparison of the video in false posts (left), and the image on Google Maps.
Comparison of the video in the false post (left) and the exact same location on Google Maps. (right).