Fake X post misleads BBC Urdu, Dawn.com

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 16 February 2026 |  JP Staff Report

BBC Urdu and Dawn.com published reports citing a verified-looking X account that claimed to be Noreen Khanum and said Imran Khan's right eye had improved. PTI later denied that the account was authentic; both newsrooms issued apologies and corrected their stories.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Two major news outlets, BBC Urdu and Dawn.com, have issued public apologies after publishing reports based on a fake account on X that falsely claimed to represent Noreen Khanum, the sister of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The incident unfolded after a “verified” X account, operating under the name Noreen Khanum and followed by more than 52,000 users, posted that there had been an improvement in Imran Khan’s right eye vision following an examination. Both outlets carried reports citing the social media post before its authenticity was confirmed.

Fake account triggers editorial lapse

Shortly after the reports were published, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) issued a formal denial on X, declaring the account fake and rejecting all claims attributed to Imran Khan’s sister. The party stated that the account and its claims were “completely fabricated” and had no connection to Khan’s family.

PTI described the circulating reports as false and misleading, expressing concern that such a sensitive update regarding Khan’s health had been published without verification from the family or the party’s information secretary.

Newsrooms respond with apologies

Following PTI’s clarification, BBC Urdu said it had published a brief report on its live page based on details shared through the account, but removed the content after learning the account was not authentic. The outlet said the post was edited and corrected after PTI’s statement.

Dawn.com also acknowledged the error publicly on its official X account. It stated that a story titled “Imran Khan’s right eye vision ‘improving’, says sister citing report,” published on February 16, had mistakenly quoted an impostor social media account. The publication said it had since confirmed that the account was not authentic.

Calling it an editorial lapse, Dawn.com issued a sincere apology for the misinformation and said it was reviewing its verification processes to prevent similar incidents. BBC Urdu similarly acknowledged the error and removed the report following PTI’s denial.

pic.twitter.com/p9xuXpzfXY

— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) February 16, 2026

The episode underscores how even accounts carrying platform verification indicators can mislead journalists if additional authentication steps are not taken. While both outlets corrected the error within hours, the incident highlights vulnerabilities in fast-paced digital newsrooms that rely on social media updates for breaking developments.

WHY THIS MATTERS: For Pakistani journalists and newsrooms, the episode reinforces the need for multilayered verification, particularly when reporting on sensitive issues such as a political leader’s health. Platform verification badges are no longer sufficient proof of authenticity. Strengthening newsroom protocols for confirming social media sources can help prevent reputational damage and maintain audience trust.

ATTRIBUTION: Based on official statements posted on X by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, BBC Urdu, and Dawn.com on February 16, 2026, and publicly available corrections issued by the respective outlets.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.