Fact-check: Fake letter circulates online claiming UAE embassy demanded action over derogatory social media post

A letter circulating online claims that the UAE Embassy in Pakistan urged the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take action against an X (formerly Twitter) account for posting derogatory content about UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his personal visit to Pakistan on January 5.

The claim is false. The letter is fake.

Claim

The letter, dated January 7, was purportedly written by the UAE Embassy in Islamabad to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It alleges that a Pakistani X account posted "malicious and derogatory" content about Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The letter claims the account used a manipulated image of the UAE president greeting Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The letter also accuses the account of being linked to Salman Akram Raja, the secretary general of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). It demands that the Pakistani government investigate the matter and take action against those responsible.

The post has been shared widely, amassing over 96,000 views and more than 500 reposts.

The letter was also posted by other accounts which can be viewed here, here and here.

Fact

The letter is entirely fabricated and was not sent by the UAE Embassy, as confirmed by both the UAE Embassy and Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Geo Fact Check contacted Khalil Awan, spokesperson for the UAE Embassy in Islamabad, who categorically dismissed the letter as "fake." While Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed to Geo Fact Check that no such letter has been received by the ministry.

Further investigation revealed that the letter in question bears the same serial number as a press release issued by the UAE Embassy on July 14, 2021, which was previously aired by Geo News. A copy of the 2021 press release can be viewed here:

Furthermore, no reputable media outlet has reported on this alleged letter from the UAE Embassy, further supporting the conclusion that the letter is fabricated.

Verdict: The letter is fake. Both the UAE Embassy in Islamabad and Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have confirmed its inauthenticity.

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