Oops! President Arif Alvi errs on Twitter

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 1 December 2020 |  JP Staff Report

President Arif Alvi mistakenly tweeted about the death of Zafarullah Jamali, later confirming Jamali is alive but on a ventilator. The error sparked clarifications from both the President and journalists.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—President Arif Ali on Monday deleted his tweet condoling the death of the former Prime Minister Zafarulllah Jamali after it was confirmed that he was still alive, though on a ventilator.

Daily Express published the news on its website. The headline announcing the death was still on the website at 8:00 pm on Monday, but the story was missing, with a message in Urdu saying the page is not available.

President Alvi was quick to issue a clarification on Twitter. “I have deleted the tweet, based on wrong info with apologies to the family. Mir Zafarullah Jamali is on the ventilator. I talked to Omar Jamali who confirmed this. May Allah grant him immediate recovery.”

I have deleted the Tweet, based on wrong info with apologies to the family. Mir Zafrullah Jamali is on the ventilator. I talked to Omar Jamali who confirmed this. May Allah grant him immediate recovery.

— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) November 30, 2020

Journalist Hasan Zaidi also said that he deleted the tweet regarding the former prime minister. “Have deleted the tweet about Zafarullah Jamali’s death. People claiming it’s wrong news.”

DawnNews TV said the former prime minister, admitted to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi, was on a ventilator.

KEY POINTS:

• Arif Alvi deleted a tweet about Zafarullah Jamali's death.
• Jamali is currently alive and on a ventilator.
• The incorrect news was published by Daily Express.
• Alvi apologized to Jamali's family for the error.
• Journalist Hasan Zaidi also corrected his similar tweet.