The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has dismissed Indian media reports claiming changes to the Pakistani passport for the removal of the clause banning travel to Israel.
As per the details, the info ministry has rejected the reports as “completely baseless and laughable”, saying no such move has been discussed or is even being considered by the government.
The propaganda started when Indian news channel Republic TV alleged that Islamabad had removed the clause from passports that declared them invalid for travel to Israel.
Exposing the false reporting by Indian media, the ministry said that Pakistan’s position on Israel has always been crystal clear.
“Pakistan has never recognised Israel, and there is absolutely no question of military cooperation […] Our support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is firm and principled, it has never wavered,” the ministry said, adding that Republic TV’s story was not picked up by any credible regional or international media outlet.
Calling out what it described as a “habit of spreading lies”, the ministry said that this kind of propaganda was “Indian godi media’s” new normal. “We will continue to speak the truth and stand by justice, peace and the rights of the Palestinian people,” it added.
While the foreign ministry and the directorate general of immigration and passports also clarified that the passport had not been changed in any way as the long-standing clause remained printed, this is not the first time Republic TV has ended up with an egg on its face due to fabricated reports.
Earlier this month, the channel claimed that Pakistan was preparing to send 20,000 troops to Gaza under the supervision of Western countries and Israel. The claim, however, was also denied by Pakistani officials.