Pakistan’s Defence verified Twitter account suspended for tweeting morphed picture of DU student

After being left red face at the United Nation General Assembly after Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations made an embarrassing faux pas when she attempted to pass off a photo of a Gaza girl as that of a Kashmiri. Pakistan, again, has given the world one more reason for being left red-faced in the eyes of the world.

In the latest gaffe, Pakistan’s verified Twitter account of its defence forum (@pakdefence) has been suspended, following the complaint lodged by the Delhi University student Kawalpreet Kaur, and a leader of All India Students’ Association (AISA), that her photo has been morphed and misused by it.

The account of @defencepk has been suspended by twitter for posting my unverified & morphed pictures. Grateful to all who reported it in large numbers. The message of the picture shouldn't be lost in these dark times. No nation wants lynchings & killings. Only bigots wants hate.

— Kawalpreet Kaur (@kawalpreetdu) November 18, 2017

Pakistan-based Twitter account posted a photoshopped image of Kawalpreet Kaur holding a placard, which read, “I am an Indian but I hate India, because India is a colonial entity that has occupied nations such as Nagas, Kashmiris, Manipuris, Hyderabad, Junagadh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Goa,” and the description on the tweet read ” Indians are finally realising the truth, their country is a colonial entity.” Had Kawalpreet not noticed it and reported it, it would have gone viral soon.

Photoshopped Image used by @pakdefence Twitter account which now is suspended

However, the actual text read, “I am a citizen of India and I stand with the secular values of our Constitution. I will write against communal mob lynching of Muslims in our country. #Citizens against mob lynching.”

Following the controversy, numerous Indian Twitter users complained about Pakistan Defence Forum’s handle for posting the doctored image, which Twitter suspended its verified account.

Kawalpreet has further requested not to communalise the issue and use it to spread hatred against Pakistan.

I request media to not communalise & sensationalise this issue to spell hatred against Pakistan. I really appreciate concern but I want to state in clear terms that many of my Pakistani friends & people condemned the misuse of my morphed picture and reported it in large numbers.

— Kawalpreet Kaur (@kawalpreetdu) November 19, 2017