A photo showing a green flag with a white crescent and star, taken during a roadshow by former minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik in Mumbai, has gone viral, with claims that it is a Pakistani flag.
A viral post falsely claims that a Pakistani flag was displayed at NCP leader Nawab Malik’s roadshow in Mumbai. This assertion is incorrect; the flag in question is an Islamic religious flag, not the Pakistani national flag.
The Claim
The photo, which circulated on X (formerly Twitter), shows a green flag with a white crescent and star at Malik’s campaign event in Shivaji Nagar, leading some users to label it a “Pakistani flag.” Malik is currently campaigning for the Maharashtra Assembly elections scheduled for November 20.
Investigation Findings
A reverse image search traced the original image to Deccan Herald, which covered Malik’s campaign event alongside Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on November 7, 2024. Photos from the same roadshow, shared by Malik himself on X, match the viral image. Analysis confirms that the flag shown is an Islamic flag, featuring a central crescent and star with additional smaller stars, differing from the Pakistani flag, which includes a distinct white stripe on the left side and only a single crescent and star.
Flag Distinction
The Pakistani flag has a green background, a white vertical stripe on the left, and a single white crescent and star. The Islamic flag displayed at Malik’s roadshow lacks this white stripe and includes additional decorative stars, distinguishing it from the Pakistani national flag.
Verdict
The flag at Nawab Malik’s roadshow is an Islamic religious symbol, not the Pakistani flag. Misidentification of Islamic flags as Pakistani flags has been a recurring issue, especially during public events or political rallies. This claim is false and promotes a misleading narrative amidst the ongoing Maharashtra election campaign.
