PML-N leader Javed Latif says Nawaz to go to London after ill health

Rating Justification

The iVerify Pakistan team has checked this content and has established that it is false.

To arrive at this verdict, the iVerify Pakistan team has checked recent publicly available interviews and media statements of PML-N leader Javed Latif.

HOW IT STARTED

On February 15, 2024, a claim began circulating on social media platform X that Latif said: “Nawaz Sharif’s health is bad, he will go to London for a check-up”.

The post received 55,000 views.

The claim was also posted by Adeel Raja, an account followed by PTI leaders on X, and collected 808,000 views.

The claim was widely circulated by various accounts, and many appeared to be PTI supporters based on their past posts and profiles, here, here, here, here, and here.

METHODOLOGY

The iVerify Pakistan team sought to determine the veracity of the claim due to its high virality and the public’s keen interest in PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s activities amid the current political scenario.

The team carried out an exhaustive search of publicly available recent interviews, media statements, public appearances and journalist interactions of Latif to verify if he ever remarked or alluded to what the viral claim attributed to him.

His social media profiles were also checked for posts where he may have written the viral claim regarding Nawaz’s health and return to London.

However, nothing was found from the publicly available videos and posts suggesting the claimed remarks.

In the five-day period from Feb 12-16, Latif only had one interview on ARY News programme Off The Record on Feb 12.

Nothing related to Nawaz’s health or London was discussed in the interview.

BACKGROUND

The PML-N, after failing to secure a majority in the general elections, changed its prime ministerial candidate from Nawaz to his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif.

Despite an initial push for Nawaz backed by a robust media campaign, the electoral outcome compelled the party to opt for the younger Sharif, marking a notable change in the PML-N’s leadership strategy.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) portal, results for 265 out of 266 National Assembly seats have been disclosed. Independent candidates are currently in the lead with 101 seats, followed by PML-N and PPP with 75 and 54 seats, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The iVerify Pakistan team has determined that the claim regarding Latif saying that Nawaz is leaving for London due to health issues is false.

Publicly available information does not present any evidence for Latif making the claim anywhere.

Evidence and References