The news that wasn't: 'India has attacked Pakistan'

Islamabad: “India has attacked Pakistan!” So flew rumours thick and fast after Pakistan Air Force (PAF) planes flew over Lahore and Rawalpindi amid rising tensions with India.

Television channels quickly went on the air to quash the rumours, quoting officials as saying that the air force was only on high alert in the wake of Indian warnings over the Mumbai terror attacks.

But the flights over Lahore and Rawalpindi did trigger panic, forcing many people to come out of their homes.

Mobile phone messages that have become a major source of information began circulating that PAF jets were countering the Indian attack. Some insisted that the Indians had hit jehadi groups.

In no time, many Pakistanis frantically telephoned media organisations to find out what was going on.