Sindh lawmaker apologizes after raising false news of Moin Khan’s death

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 1 hour ago |  JP Staff Report

A Sindh legislator apologized after raising false news about Moin Khan’s death, prompting renewed concern over misinformation and the need for stronger verification practices in Pakistan.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — On Friday morning in the Sindh Assembly, MQM MPA Sabir Qaimkhani requested the Speaker to offer Fatiha for Pakistan’s former Test cricketer Moin Khan, mistakenly believing reports of his death. He described Moin’s cricketing services as legendary while making the request.

It is a long-standing practice in the Sindh Assembly to offer Fatiha for politicians, public figures, or victims of terror attacks before the proceedings begin.

Speaker intervenes to correct misinformation

However, Speaker Owais Shah gently reminded the MQM legislator that the former cricketer, known for hitting the winning runs against New Zealand in the 1992 World Cup semifinal, was alive and well. The Speaker stated that the news circulating about Moin’s death was fake.

Sabir Qaimkhani immediately apologized on the Assembly floor and expressed regret for presenting unverified information during the session.

Lawmaker urges action against fake news

Later, the MPA told BBC Urdu that he had seen the false report online and noted it down without verifying its authenticity. He said he has asked the Speaker to take practical steps to curb the spread of fake news within and outside the Assembly.

After the rumor circulated widely, Moin Khan posted on social media to confirm that he was alive, well, and enjoying his day. This is not the first time he has been the target of mistaken reports. In 2011, following the death of actor Moin Akhtar, a newspaper mistakenly used a photograph of Moin Khan alongside the story.

KEY POINTS:

• MQM MPA Sabir Qaimkhani mistakenly announced Moin Khan’s death in the Sindh Assembly
• Speaker Owais Shah clarified that the former cricketer is alive and the report was fake
• The lawmaker apologized and urged steps to counter misinformation
• Moin Khan later reassured the public via social media that he is alive
• A similar mix-up involving Moin Khan occurred in 2011