Fact-check: Posts claiming Omar Ayub demanded release of BLA militants is false

Multiple online accounts are circulating a video clip purportedly showing Omar Ayub, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly (NA), demanding the release of militants belonging to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

The claim is false.

Claim

On August 29, an X (formerly Twitter) user shared a 43-second video clip featuring Ayub, a senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the leader of the opposition in the NA. 

The caption accompanying the video in the Urdu language reads: "What we feared is happening. The nexus between BLA terrorists and PTI has been exposed. Omar Ayub has demanded the release of all BLA terrorists. He has trampled on the dead bodies of innocent citizens of Punjab."

The post has amassed over 30,000 views, more than 430 reposts, and over 700 likes.

Identical claims were also shared on Facebook and on X here, here and here.

Fact

Ayub did not make any statements calling for the release of BLA militants.

On August 29, Ayub spoke to the media outside an Anti-Terrorism Court in Punjab. In his press conference, which Geo Fact Check has reviewed, Ayub did not call for the release of BLA militants. His comments instead focused on the situation in Balochistan:

“The situation in Balochistan is very serious. The demands of Mahrang Baloch and the families of the Baloch missing persons are absolutely correct. The government of Balochistan should listen to them and hold talks with them.”

Even in the clips circulating online, Ayub does not mention releasing BLA militants.

Earlier this month, a series of deadly attacks battered Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, killing 74 people.

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