Fact Check: Dawood Ibrahim's Death News Confirmed By Pakistan's Care Taker PM?

The internet is abuzz with the death news of India's most-wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, the mastermind behind the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. Speculations are doing rounds that he was poisoned by some unknown men on December 15 and he died of health complications on December 17.

Since Pakistan never admitted the existence of the underworld don in Pakistan, people on the internet said that they were hoping to get a formal confirmation about his death.

However, a surprising statement attributed to Pakistan's caretaker PM Anwar ul Haq Kakar started doing rounds on social media today, giving a strong impression to the people that he had died.

A screenshot with the message read: "The Messiah of humanity, dear to every Pakistani heart, our beloved His Excellency Dawood Ibrahim passed away due to poisoned by unknown. He breathed his last in a hospital in Karachi. May Allah grant him the highest position in Jannat. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un."

However, this has turned out to be a fake message as Pakistan's caretaker PM. On a close inspection of the viral screenshot, it is revealed that the user name doesn't match the official account of Anwaar ul Haq.

His last message on X was posted on December 16 where he condoled the death of Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait.

He wrote, "Deeply saddened by the news that Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah has passed away. Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Kuwaiti Royal Family and the people of Kuwait at this moment of grief. May Allah SWT bless the departed soul with the highest place in Jannat ul Firdous. The late His Highness will always be remembered for his sterling contribution to strengthening Pak-Kuwait relations."

Dawood Ibrahim, a key figure in organized crime, has eluded law enforcement for an extended period. Accused of orchestrating the 1993 Mumbai bombings, he earned the designation as one of India's most wanted terrorists.

Is Dawood Ibrahim Really Dead?

Nonetheless, the Pakistani media has not had a single report on the terrorist's death. The only source is Pakistani Journalist Arzoo Kazmi whose only source is social media again. She is connecting Pakistan's Internet blockade with his death.

Internet Shutdown

The internet services in Pakistan faced nationwide disruption as people complained about difficulties accessing social media platforms, Dawn reported citing Internet monitor Netblocks on Sunday. This came amid the virtual power show by former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI). The virtual rally was scheduled to begin at 9 pm, but the whole social media turned down.

"Live metrics show a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across #Pakistan, including X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube," Netblocks said in a statement.