Claim: A video featuring the former prime minister, Imran Khan, recorded in jail and shared primarily on TikTok, claimed he has been granted bail by the court and has no pending cases against him. In the video, Khan urges his supporters to prepare for a peaceful protest.
Fact: The video is doctored, with jail bars edited onto a darkened screen. The original video message from Imran Khan was released on 13 May 2023 after obtaining bail for pending cases. However, he remains under trial for the cypher case at present, and has not secured bail for it.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former prime minister was ousted from office following a vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly in 2023. Facing multiple corruption charges, Khan was arrested in August 2023 after he was found guilty in the Toshakhana case, involving the illicit sale of gifts from foreign dignitaries during his tenure.
On 13 May 2023, Imran Khan released a video from the Islamabad High Court, after he was granted bail on all pending cases, thanking supporters and claiming innocence regarding pending cases. He vowed to continue advocating for the rule of law and justice in Pakistan.
On 13 December 2023, a one-minute video circulated across social media, primarily on TikTok, purportedly showcasing a recent message from Imran Khan from his jail cell. The video depicts Khan behind bars in a dimly lit room making claims such as being granted bail with no pending cases against him, and urging his supporters to carry out a peaceful protest.
Fact or Fiction?
The video, allegedly a recent message from Imran Khan in jail, has been doctored.The original video from when Khan was awarded bail from 13 May 2023, has been edited to include jail bars with a visibly darkened screen. However, the audio and content of the speech are identical to the original.
Additionally, neither Imran Khan nor PTI’s official social media accounts have released any such video recently.
A comparison of the doctored video with the authentic version from Khan’s official Youtube account reveals significant discrepancies:
- The doctored video depicts Khan in a dimly lit room behind bars, unlike the well-lit room with a window and curtain in the original.
- The low quality resolution in the doctored video makes it challenging to discern details of Khan’s appearance and surroundings which are clearly visible in the original video message from 13 May.
- Pixelation, blurring, and noise in the doctored video suggest that it has been tampered with using editing and compression.
Moreover, Khan is currently incarcerated, and releasing video messages from jail is prohibited.
In addition to this, neither have any credible media outlets reported this video, nor have any independent fact-checking organisations verified its authenticity.
Virality
The doctored video of Imran Khan garnered over 12,000 views, 1,000 likes, and 70 reposts on TikTok by December 13, 2023.
It was shared extensively on WhatsApp, receiving the “forwarded many times” label.
Conclusion: The video claiming to feature a recent message from Imran Khan from jail is a manipulated version of an older video message from him which dates back to May 2023. The doctored version circulated widely on TikTok and other social media platforms, accruing substantial views, likes, and shares. However, it lacks credibility as it has been visibly edited, and neither Imran Khan nor PTI’s official accounts have released such a video recently.
To appeal against our fact-check, please send an email to appeals@sochfactcheck.com