After a contentious election in Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) was elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the second time on March 4, 2024.
Viral Video Claims False Connection to Swearing-In Ceremony
A video went viral on social media, claiming to show a woman reciting the ‘Gayatri Mantra’ during the swearing-in ceremony of the Pakistani Prime Minister. The video featured a poster of Pakistan’s first Prime Minister, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in the background.
Video Actually from 2017 Holi Celebration
India Today Fact Check investigated the viral video and found that it was not from the Pakistani PM’s swearing-in ceremony. Instead, it was from a 2017 Holi celebration where then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was present. The video showed Nawaz Sharif clapping as the Gayatri Mantra recitation ended, confirming that the video was at least seven years old.
Corroborating Evidence from News Reports and Singer
To further verify the facts, a news report from Pakistan’s Dunya News was found, which showed Nawaz Sharif attending the same event as the viral video. The report mentioned that the event took place on March 14, 2017, in Karachi, on the Hindu occasion of Holi. Nawaz Sharif had joined the festivities.
The singer Narodha Malni, whose name was mentioned in the viral post, confirmed that the video was from 2017. She recalled her performance of the Gayatri Mantra in front of Nawaz Sharif during that time. She stated that the viral claim was fake news.
Conclusion: Video Does Not Show Swearing-In Ceremony
Based on the investigation, it is clear that the viral video does not show the Gayatri Mantra being recited at the swearing-in ceremony of the Pakistan Prime Minister. The video is from a 2017 Holi celebration where then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was present.
