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India-Pakistan
Rumours of Abbas Qadri's killing spark violence
2006-02-19
KARACHI: Sporadic violence spread throughout the city, starting Saturday evening and continuing past midnight after rumours spread that Sunni Tehreek (ST) leader Maulana Abbas Qadri had been killed by gunmen. While the rumours have proved wrong, a number of apparent ST activists came out on the streets, pelted passing vehicles with stones, forced shopkeepers to close their businesses and burnt tires.

The rumours started after people started receiving text messages on their mobile phones and also through phone calls, in which their friends wanted to inquire of the ST leader's whereabouts. They wanted to confirm whether the rumours of Maulana Qadri's death were true. According to Daily Times investigations, the rumours were baseless. A spokesperson for the ST ridiculed the rumours and said Maulana Qadri was all right.
Posted by:Fred

#2  Text someone in the region with the rumour that the vaccine against H5N1 has been developed so it can only be delivered in a bacon sandwich. WeÂ’ve done this on purpose.

Next texted rumour: Bird flu has reached Pakistan -- we have to kill all our chickens! To be followed by full anti-West riots while the wives destroy the flocks... Kentucky Fried Chicken has already been destroyed anyway.

No it isn't funny, but it is their pattern. Can we make a rumour that loving livestock is the primary method of bird flu transmission?
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-02-19 12:55  

#1  Technology in the hands of the ignorant. Text messaging rumours. Could be the start of something big.

(Â…) their friends wanted to inquire of the ST leader's whereabouts

“Hey, Ahmad, have ya seen Qadri? S’posed to meet me here for shawarma.”

A couple of txt msgs down the line and Qari’s “dead” and violence reigns.

We could use this ..

Text someone in the region with the rumour that the vaccine against H5N1 has been developed so it can only be delivered in a bacon sandwich. WeÂ’ve done this on purpose.
Posted by: Hupomoger Clans9827   2006-02-19 10:26  

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