Claim: Pakistani actor and director Hamza Ali Abbasi, revealed that everyone in PTI is homosexual during a television interview.
Fact: The actor made no such statement. The viral clip has been edited to misrepresent the context of his remarks. In the unedited version, he addressed the nature of the allegations made against him and Imran Khan without making any disclosure.
X user @CSMR786 shared a video (archive) featuring Reham Khan, Hajra Khan, and Hamza Ali Abbasi, writing, “تبدیلی کی آڑ میں ہم جنس پرستی عروج پر ھے۔۔۔ ابے یوتھیو ایک نشئی کے پیچھے اپنی آخرت خراب مت کرو۔”
[Translated from Urdu: Homosexuality is on the rise under the guise of change… Hey, Youthiyas, don’t ruin your hereafter for a drug addict.]
The video is divided into two sections. On the left, a clip of Hamza Ali Abbasi is shown with the caption ‘aitraaf’ [confession], while on the right, clips of Reham Khan and TV actor Hajra Khan are displayed with the caption ‘ilzaam’ [allegation].
The video begins with Reham Khan stating, “I think that the fact that you’re giving positions to men or women in the party because you’re taking sexual favors from them or coercing them to have sexual relations with you is completely wrong. It is exploitation, it is nepotism, and it is certainly sexual exploitation. That is against meritocracy. The problem arises when you mix business with pleasure, and those who do certain things for you get positions of power. That is the ultimate debate here.”
The clip is followed by footage of Hajra Khan, who says, “Unho ne apnay bachpan mein jab woh boarding school mein thay, apnay kuch experiences bataye, jo kaisay go through kiyay.” [He shared some experiences from his childhood when he was in boarding school and how he went through them.]
“Larkon ke boarding school mein unka kuch arsa guzra tou kehtay thay ke aksar unkay dimagh mein ata hai ke woh wapis shayad unko attraction horahi hai apnay jins se.” [He spent some time in a boys’ boarding school and mentioned that he often felt he might be developing an attraction toward the same gender again.] She further added, “Aur jab unho ne kaha ke kam umar ke larkon ke saath meri gathering thi.” [And when he said that he used to socialise with younger boys.]
The video then cuts to a clip of Hamza Ali Abbasi during an interview with TV anchor Shahzad Iqbal, who asks him: “Ham-jins parasti ka ilzaam aap pe aur Imran Khan pe laga hai.” [The allegation of homosexuality has been made against you and Imran Khan.] To which the actor responds, “Unkay upar tou primarily unkay upar lagaya hai. Imran Khan sahab ke upar. Aur phir usko apply kiya hai ke issi liye woh humain itni attention detay hain. Pretty boys like Hamza Ali Abbasi aur Murad Saaed kyun ke unkay yeh intentions hain.” [Primarily, the allegation has been made against him, Imran Khan. And then it’s extended, suggesting that this is why he gives us so much attention — pretty boys like Hamza Ali Abbasi and Murad Saeed — because of his supposed intentions.]
He adds, “Ab I don’t know aap kaisay unko words mein dalein ge, iske illawah-” [Now, I don’t know how you would put this into words, beyond that-] Iqbal questions, “Mujhe nahi pata mein aap se iski tardeed loon tasdeeq karoon.” [I don’t know whether I should ask you to deny it or confirm it.] Abbasi asks, “Kis cheez ki?” [Confirm or deny what?] To which the anchor says, “Matlab yeh kia saari baatein jo likhi gaye hain.. Yeh kia ilzaam hain.” [I mean, all these things that have been written… What are these allegations?]
The actor says, “Aap sahi keh rahay hain, mein tou uski tasdeeq kar raha hoon. Mein yeh keh raha hoon mujhay alfaaz woh nahi mil rahay ke usko kaisay mein bataon ke ikhlaaqi lihaaz se jo sahi alfaaz hotay hain lekin aap theek keh rahay hain. Basically ham saray ham-jins parast hain.” [You’re right, I am confirming it. What I am saying is that I can’t find the appropriate words to describe it in an ethically suitable way, but you’re correct. Basically, we are all homosexuals.]
Hamza Ali Abbasi
Pakistani actor and director Hamza Ali Abbasi, a vocal supporter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), frequently appeared alongside Imran Khan in dharnas and protests across the country, according to Dawn. He officially joined the party in 2014. In recognition of his active involvement, PTI’s Karachi President, Ali H. Zaidi, announced in January 2015 that Abbasi would take on the role of PTI Karachi’s Secretary of Culture, reported Dawn. The position involved developing strategies related to the party’s stance on culture and media issues. Abbasi also created a documentary showcasing Imran’s life inside the container during the sit-ins, the report added.
In April 2015, Abbasi announced his resignation as Tehreek-i-Insaf’s culture secretary. He claimed that he was not fit to represent PTI as its culture secretary because of a recent film he acted in. Abbasi has since occasionally expressed support for former Prime Minister Imran Khan, but expressed a disinterest in politics.
Fact or Fiction?
A keyword search using the terms “Hamza Ali Abbasi” and “Shahzad Iqbal” led us to the full episode of the show ‘Awaz,’ which aired in June 2018 on Samaa TV. During the exclusive interview, Iqbal discusses the claims made by Imran Khan’s former wife, Reham Khan, in her book.
At 25:51, Iqbal says, “Is kitab mein yeh likha hai ke aap ko aur Murad Saeed ko bohat access tha Bani Gala mein, aur woh access tha jo KP rehnuma hain un se barh kar.” [This book states that you and Murad Saeed had significant access to Bani Gala, even more than the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leaders.]
At 26:09, the clip used in the viral video appears. However, at 26:42, Abbasi says, “Aap theek keh rahay hain ‘ilzaam’ yehi hain ke basically ham saray ham-jins parast hain.” [You are correct; the ‘allegation’ is that we are all homosexuals.] The part where he says, “ilzaam yehi hain” [the allegation is this] has been removed to make it appear as though he admitted to homosexuality among PTI members.
Virality
The claim was shared here, here, here, here, and here on X. Archived here, here, here, here, and here.
On Facebook, it was shared here, here, here, here, here, and here.
It was also shared here on Instagram.
Conclusion: The claim is false. Hamza Ali Abbasi did not say he is gay, nor did he confirm the sexuality of anyone in PTI. The video has been edited to misrepresent his remarks.
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Background image in cover photo: Hamza Ali Abbasi
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