After Pakistan opposition politician Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed accused police of raiding his home and party office, Facebook and Twitter posts shared a photo purportedly showing him hiding from police in hospital. However, the photo was taken in June 2020 when Ahmed was treated for Covid-19. He has appeared in public in August 2022 after claims about him hiding circulated.

"The one who sets parliament on fire and gives open threats to institutions, Sheikh Rasheed has made the excuse of being sick and is hiding in a hospital," reads an Urdu tweet posted on August 11.

The tweet, shared by an account with more than 110,000 followers, shows a photo of Ahmed in a hospital bed.

Ahmed is a vocal critic of the ruling coalition that took power after ex-prime minister Imran Khan was booted from office in April.

Ahmed served as interior minister under Khan and is head of Pakistan's Awami Muslim League (AML) party.

The photo was shared online, including on Facebook and Twitter, after Ahmed accused police in the capital Islamabad of raiding his home and AML's offices.

Police denied raiding his home, but did not comment on the alleged raid on AML's offices.

Ahmed's allegation came hours after a senior member of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party Shahbaz Gill was arrested on charges of making seditious remarks on live TV.

Police have raided the homes and offices of a string of opposition party members since Khan's ouster.

Some social media users appear to believe the photos...

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