Pakistan is seeing several concurrent protest movements in October 2026, driven mainly by fuel taxes and inflation, the federal takeover of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and farmers’ economic demands. The largest active call is Jamaat-e-Islami’s nationwide action against the petroleum taxes.
Similarly, reports that the provincial government, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had been suspended and emergency rule imposed, triggering widespread protests and reports of demonstrators being shot.
In the above context, a video has gone viral on social media in which security forces are seen firing into the air as protesters scatter here and there on the street.
The video is shared with a caption claiming that it shows police in Pakistan shooting at the protesters.
A social media user shared the video with a caption that reads, “Situation of Pakistan is completely out of control now.”
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The video is from Kurdish protests in Syria.
On a Google Reverse Image search, we found that the same video was shared by an Instagram page, LBN News, on October 9. The video is shared with a caption that reads, "Street battles broke out in the Syrian city of Hasakah between Syria's General Security forces and Kurdish groups. The clashes were reported in the city."
We further found that the screenshot of the video was also shared by a Kurdish website, Bas News, on October 9, 2026. The report associated with the screenshot suggests that security tensions escalated in Hasakah, in Syria’s Kurdish region, late Thursday into Friday after Kurdish youth protested for their rights. Public security forces intervened, reportedly firing into the air and dispersing demonstrators near Al-Hamama roundabout and the Mufti neighbourhood, leaving several Kurdish residents injured and damaging civilian property. Authorities deployed reinforcements, restricted movement in Ghweiran, and closed the Beirut Bridge and the city market. Activists urged restraint, protection of civilians, and avoidance of further confrontation.
Taking a hint, we searched with relevant keywords and found that the incident was also shared by another Kurdish website, Kurd Online, on October 9, 2026. According to the report, security tensions rose in Al-Hasakah, northern Syria, on October 8 after Kurdish youth protests. General Security forces reportedly fired into the air to disperse crowds, injuring several Kurdish residents near Al-Hamama roundabout and damaging property. Protesters also tore down the trilingual “Peace Square” sign, seen as targeting Kurdish cultural symbols. Authorities imposed movement restrictions in Ghuwayran and closed the Al-Bayrouti Bridge and central market. SOHR warned against ethnic incitement and urged restraint, accountability, and protection of civilians.
Hence, we can ascertain that the viral claim is false.
