Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Ruby leads editorial, operations and initiatives at Newschecker. In her former avatar at New Delhi Television (NDTV), India’s leading national news network, she was a news anchor, supervising producer and senior output editor. Her over a decade-long career encompasses ground-breaking reportage from conflict zones and reporting on terror incidents, election campaigns, and gender issues. Ruby is an Emmy-nominated producer and has handled both local and international assignments, including the coverage of Arab Spring in 2011, the US Presidential elections in 2016, and ground reportage on the Kashmir issue since 2009.
Claim
‘Jannat Certificate’ are being issued to mujahideen(terrorists) promising 72 hoor to them when they end their lives in the name of Jihad.
Newschecker has also received the same claim on our tipline (+91 9999499044) requesting it to be fact checked.
Also Read: 2013 Photo From Syria Falsely Linked To Israel-Palestine Conflict
Fact
Newschecker began by looking up the keywords ‘Jannat certificate’ (Certificates for paradise) and ‘Pakistan’ on Google, which threw up several results, connecting it to PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)), the political party of the former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif.
One such result, published on a website called pdf.defence.pk, carried a discussion thread, which read “Anyone who attended the below corner meeting of PML-N member is already a confirmed Jannati, and anyone who will to welcome Nawaz Sharif (a convicted criminal and an absconder) will be issued a certificate of Heaven.”
It also carried a small speech of PML-N leader Chaudhry Asad, saying the same at a public gathering.
Clarifying on his statement, Chaudhary Asad Ur Rehman later told Capital TV that “those who take part and support good deeds will g to heaven.”
On more searching, we found another report by The Asian Mirror, that revealed similar information.
“The PML-N is mobilising its followers to be ready for Nawaz Sharif’s return, and in an effort to win over the populace, the former ruling party has proposed a novel plan for those who would be showing up at Lahore Airport to welcome the ousted premier. The former lawmaker Chaudhry Asad ur Rehman promises heavenly rewards to those who would be welcoming Mian Nawaz Sharif on October 21 in a video footage from the PML-N’s corner meeting in the Toba Tek Singh district that is doing the rounds online. Chaudhry can be heard saying ‘Those who would go to Minar-e-Pakistan to welcome Nawaz Sharif will go to Jannat as angels will be forming a special list’,” the report read.
Prominent Pakistani news outlet, ARY news, also published a report carrying similar details.
“Addressing a corner meeting in Kamalia city in Toba Tek Singh district, former MNA Chaudhry Asad ur Rehman made an exhilarating announcement during a public gathering,” the report revealed.
The statement was made ahead of Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan on October 21, 2023 after four years of self-imposed exile to the UK.
We then analysed the viral video. The Urdu text superimposed on the video read “First-person of Noon-League receiving Jannat ticket.” The noon-league here refers to PMLN.
On close analysis of the text of the certificate, which is in English, it said, “Certificate of Jannat. This certificate is proudly awarded to Malik Younis. He attended the corner meeting and promised that he will go to Lahore on October 21, 2023 to welcome Mian Nawaz Sharif PMLN.” This is followed by an Urdu text.
This corroborates with the reports that were found by Newschecker. We have further contacted journalists in Pakistan to shed more light on the incident.
Based on our findings, we can thus confirm that the video shows a PMLN supporter being given a certificate of Jannat for participating in a PMLN rally in Lahore and not a mujahideen being given a certificate of Jannat as is being claimed.
Result: False
Our Sources
Post on chat thread on pdf.defence.pk, dated October 17, 2023
Report by The Asian Mirror, dated October 18, 2023
YouTube interview posted on page of Capital TV, dated October 24, 2023
Report by ARY news, dated October 17, 2023
Report by Times Of India, dated October 21, 2023
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Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Ruby leads editorial, operations and initiatives at Newschecker. In her former avatar at New Delhi Television (NDTV), India’s leading national news network, she was a news anchor, supervising producer and senior output editor. Her over a decade-long career encompasses ground-breaking reportage from conflict zones and reporting on terror incidents, election campaigns, and gender issues. Ruby is an Emmy-nominated producer and has handled both local and international assignments, including the coverage of Arab Spring in 2011, the US Presidential elections in 2016, and ground reportage on the Kashmir issue since 2009.
