A video showing Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa at what appears to be a store has gone viral on social media. The clip features two women, one of whom is seen interacting with a man believed to be an employee of the shop. Although the employee’s face is not visible in the video, the audio suggests that he made disrespectful comments after recognizing the chief justice.
Video Circulates on Social Media
The video, which quickly gained traction on various social media platforms, includes a watermark reading “EHTASHAMABBASI.” The video was initially shared by Ehtesham Ali Abbasi, who identifies himself as a crime reporter for Bol TV, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday. Since then, it has garnered over 757,000 views. The post was reshared more than 7,400 times, primarily by users with profiles indicating support for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party.
The Store in Question: Crusteez, Islamabad
The shop where the alleged incident occurred is identified as Crusteez, a popular doughnut chain in Islamabad. The store has several branches throughout the city. However, no concrete details about the specific branch where the incident took place have been confirmed by the posts or videos circulating online.
The Viral Image of a Store Being Sealed
Amid the video’s circulation, an image surfaced showing officials standing at the entrance of a store with a notice indicating that the establishment had been sealed. The posts sharing this image offered no direct connection between the store in the image and the alleged incident involving Chief Justice Isa. The image was spread by multiple users, including PTI supporters, as well as by Adeel Habib, the founder of the digital media platform Siasat. pk, and PTI leader Shahbaz Gill. It was also shared by Syed Jlaluddin Jlal, a broadcast journalist associated with Bol News and ABP News.
These posts suggested or implied that the doughnut shop was sealed following the incident involving the employee and the chief justice. The collective views for these posts exceeded 361,000.
Conflicting Audio in the Viral Video
Interestingly, the same video was later reshared by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters with a different claim. In this version, the audio was altered to suggest that the shop employee was praising Chief Justice Isa instead of making disrespectful remarks. This alternate version of the video was widely shared on Thursday.
Fact-Check: Verifying the Sealed Store Claim
Due to the virality of the video and image, a fact-check was conducted to investigate the claim about the doughnut shop being sealed. A reverse image search of the viral image led to an X post by Irfan Nawaz Memon, the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad, dated September 11.
In the post, DC Memon clarified that an action had been taken in Islamabad’s F6 sector for violating anti-dengue Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The caption explained, “Action taken in F6 for violation of anti-dengue SOPs. One outlet was sealed, and one person was arrested. DC Islamabad directed to continue strict actions against the breeding of larvae.” This implies that the sealing of the store was related to health violations, not the incident involving Chief Justice Isa.
Crusteez Outlet in F6, Islamabad
A quick search on Google Maps for Crusteez locations identifies a branch called “Crusteez Innovations” in the F6 area of Islamabad. According to the company’s website, this particular branch focuses on creativity, innovation, and experimentation with their products. However, no direct connection between this outlet and the alleged incident has been confirmed.
Conclusion Chaska
The viral video and subsequent image have fueled widespread speculation and misinformation. While the video sparked debate about the interaction between the shop employee and Chief Justice Isa, the store’s sealing appears unrelated to the incident. The closure was likely due to health violations, as confirmed by the Deputy Commissioner’s statement. Nonetheless, the rapid spread of these posts highlights the influence of social media in shaping public perceptions of high-profile figures.