Claim: The Iranian president met Imran Khan in Adiala Jail; Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chaudhry Parvez Elahi were also present.
Fact: The claim that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met with Imran Khan in Adiala Jail is false. There is no evidence to support this claim.
On 23 April 2024, multiple social media users shared posts alleging that the Iranian president met Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, with Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chaudhry Parvez Elahi also present. According to these claims, President Raisi was emotional during the meeting, and started crying and expressing sadness. The posts also claim that Raisi announced his intentions to facilitate Khan’s release. These assertions circulated widely on social media platforms, citing media reports as sources.
Fact or Fiction?
President Raisi arrived in Pakistan on April 23 2024, for a scheduled three-day visit. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed by Housing and Works Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada at the Nur Khan Airbase. He was later presented with a guard of honour by a contingent of the Armed Forces at the Prime Minister’s House. There is no mention in any credible news reports of President Raisi visiting Adiala Jail or meeting with Imran Khan there.
There is no mention of Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi or Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s presence in any official reports about President Raisi’s visit. The official focus of President Raisi’s visit was on strengthening bilateral ties between Iran and Pakistan.
The claim that President Raisi announced he will play a role in the release of Imran Khan is also unsubstantiated as there are no official statements or credible news sources confirming such an announcement.
Some versions of the viral claim include an image purportedly showing Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi meeting Imran Khan in Adiala Jail. However, the image in question is not from the alleged meeting but from Imran Khan’s official visit to Iran in October 2019 during his tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan.
In other versions, screen recordings of TV-style news headlines purportedly published by an organisation called “کرنٹ نیوز نیٹ ورک” serve as evidence to support the claim’s credibility. These images of news headlines suggest that a legitimate TV news channel is endorsing the purported meeting. However, it is important to note that this organisation is not a credible news outlet. The entity lacks an online presence, including an official website or verified social media accounts. The absence of credible information linked to this organisation raises doubts about its legitimacy as a reliable news source. Therefore, while screen recordings of TV-style news headlines may seem convincing, the veracity of the claim cannot be confirmed solely based on these screen recordings.
Khan’s imprisonment
Khan is currently serving multiple prison terms for various charges, including corruption, revealing official secrets, and violating marriage laws, as reported by AP News. His confinement at Adiala Jail entails strict measures imposed by the authorities, including regular interrogations and restrictions on visitors.
Given the security measures and restrictions imposed by the authorities, the likelihood of a foreign leader like Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi meeting Khan as part of an official visit seems impossible due to the security measures and restrictions imposed on Khan by jail authorities.
Recently, on April 22 2024, Khan underwent another round of interrogations conducted by the police’s Joint Investigation Team (JIT) within the confines of Adiala Jail, according to AAJ News. These interrogations highlight the ongoing scrutiny Khan faces during his imprisonment.
Furthermore, the Punjab government, which is responsible for overseeing the management of Adiala Jail, has implemented measures to limit Khan’s interactions with the outside world. In March 2024, visitors were barred from meeting Khan for two weeks due to security concerns following intelligence reports indicating a potential attack on the prison, according to AP News.
Khan’s meetings, even those involving his family members, are tightly controlled by the Punjab government. Despite the efforts of his supporters, including members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, to advocate for him, the authorities maintain strict oversight over his interactions with the outside world.
As a result, it is not possible for a foreign leader, such as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, to meet with Imran Khan as part of an official visit due to the logistics and security concerns surrounding Khan’s incarceration. Claims suggesting a meeting between President Raisi and Khan within the confines of Adiala Jail lack credibility and are not supported by evidence.
Virality
The claim received more than 183,000 views, over 5,000 likes, and 1,200 reposts on X.
It was also shared on other social media platforms, including Facebook and TikTok.
The claim was published on Facebook here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Conclusion: There is no evidence or credible news sources to support the claim that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met Imran Khan in Adiala Jail.
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Background image in cover photo: Shiite News
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