On Wednesday, multiple users shared an image on social media platform X, claiming that a doughnut shop in Islamabad was “sealed” after an employee allegedly disrespected Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa. However, the circulated image is actually from September 11, when the shop was sealed for violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to dengue prevention.
A video involving CJP Isa also circulated on social media that day, showing him at what seems to be a shop with two women. One woman speaks to a man, presumably a shop employee, whose face is not visible. According to the audio, the employee allegedly makes disrespectful remarks about the Chief Justice after recognizing him. This video, which bears a watermark reading “EHTASHAMABBASI,” was shared by crime reporter Ehtesham Ali Abbasi and garnered over 757,000 views, being reshared 7,400 times by users who appeared to support the PTI party.
The doughnut shop in question, Crusteez, has multiple branches in Islamabad. As the viral video spread, an accompanying image showed officials sealing the shop and posting a notice at its entrance. However, none of the posts connecting the video to the alleged incident provided details about the outlet or the sealing.
The image was shared by several users, including PTI supporter Adeel Habib, PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, and broadcast journalist Syed Jlaluddin Jlal. Many posts implied or claimed that the doughnut shop was sealed due to the incident involving the Chief Justice, collectively garnering over 361,000 views.
On Thursday, PML-N supporters also began sharing the viral video, suggesting it was the original version, although it still carried the “EHTASHAMABBASI” watermark and was shorter at 70 seconds compared to the earlier 75-second clip. The PML-N version abruptly cut off the woman’s question to the employee, which was fully audible in the original, indicating potential manipulation of the video.
Affan Ahmed Khan, digital manager for Dawn News, examined the video and noted signs of dubbing and editing, such as cut audio and inconsistent background noise. He explained that the dubbing lacked the expected echo and that the audio was edited to create a more polished sound.
Additionally, further investigation revealed posts from journalists claiming the video was old, with The Nation’s correspondent Ali Hamza stating that it was from August 2024, following a Supreme Court judgment in the Mubarak Sani case. A Facebook post dated August 20, 2024, described an incident where a counter employee at a popular bakery in Islamabad reportedly misbehaved with the Chief Justice and his wife, refusing to serve them doughnuts.
Attempts to contact Crusteez for clarification were unsuccessful, but the doughnut chain later issued a statement on social media. The statement read:
“At Crusteez Donuts, we are committed to treating every customer with respect and fairness. We are aware of a video circulating where an employee refused service to a customer. This action was an individual decision and does not reflect our company’s values. We are investigating the situation to understand the context fully. While respecting personal beliefs, service should never be denied based on individual opinions. We are reinforcing training across all locations to ensure our teams uphold our standards of inclusivity and professionalism. We apologize to the customer involved and to those impacted. Thank you for your understanding as we address this matter.”
In conclusion, the fact check confirmed that the claim about the viral image showing a doughnut shop sealed due to employee misconduct towards the Chief Justice is false. The image was originally shared by the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner after the shop was sealed for violating dengue SOPs. Additionally, the video circulated by PML-N supporters is also manipulated.
