Claim: A screengrab of journalist Shahzeb Khanzada’s show suggests that former finance minister Miftah Ismail had said that Imran Khan did not sign any agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would lead to inflation in Pakistan, in fact, he saved the country from global inflation.
Fact: Ismail issued a clarification that he did not give any such statement. The screenshot going viral on social media is doctored.
Fact or Fiction?
On 23 February 2023, Facebook user Nasir Raza posted a screengrab of journalist Shahzeb Khanzada’s show claiming that former finance minister Miftah Ismail had said on his show that Imran Khan did not sign any agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would lead to inflation in Pakistan, in fact, he saved the country from global inflation. He also said that all the political parties that constitute the current government have started taking personal benefits without thinking about the country, due to which the storm of inflation came.
Soch Fact Check found the claim to be false. Ismail issued a clarification on 28 March 2023 via Twitter that the claim is fabricated.
“Friends have sent me this post and asked for clarification.
This is a completely made up post and a total lie. PTI is largely responsible for the economic mess we are in due to breaking IMF agreements twice in 2 years.
PTI’s large deficits, low tax collection and an expansive monetary policy contributed to high inflation.
PTI is not the only one at fault, but it cannot be absolved of responsibility,” his tweet reads.
Friends have sent me this post and asked for clarification.
This is a completely made up post and a total lie. PTI is largely responsible for the economic mess we are in due to breaking IMF agreements twice in 2 years.
PTI’s large deficits, low tax collection and an expansive… pic.twitter.com/29f9IKomw6— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) March 28, 2023
To further investigate the claim, Soch Fact Check searched when Ismail appeared on Khanzada’s show and ascertained that the screen grab doing the rounds on social media is from the 26 January 2023 show based on what he is wearing and background images appearing on screen.
We sifted through the 42-minute-long clip and could not find Ismail making any statement about former prime minister Imran Khan not signing any agreement with the IMF that would lead to inflation in Pakistan and saving the country from global inflation.
It is important to note that Soch Fact Check has not investigated claims of which political party is responsible for the economic crisis and inflation Pakistan is currently grappling with.
Virality:
On Facebook, the claim was shared here, here, here, here and here.
It can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here on Twitter.
Conclusion: Ismail said the statement being attributed to him about Imran Khan not signing an IMF agreement that would have caused inflation and saving Pakistan from global inflation is made up.
To submit an appeal on our fact-check, please send an email to appeals@sochfactcheck.com