Claim: King Charles III offered Imran Khan to become the King of the United Kingdom.
Fact: The claim originated from a satirical report, which was eventually disseminated as real news.
On 15 March 2023, Facebook user ‘Abdul Ghani Muhammdi’ posted a visual (archive) featuring Imran Khan, the former prime minister and chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), alongside King Charles III of the UK, as well as the following text:
“KING CHARLES III OFFERED IMRAN KHAN TO BECOME KING OF UK, KHAN REJECTED”
The date “Oct. 15, 2022” and the link to a website “www.currentfy.com” also appear on the visual, which is being shared by many as proof of Khan’s loyalty to Pakistan amid the former premier battling the Toshakhana case, wherein he is accused (archive) of unlawfully selling state gifts during his tenure from 2018 to 2022.
The Facebook user added the following caption to the image:
“افسوس ہوتا ہے اس قوم نے کسی کی قدر نہیں کی لیڈر صدیوں بعد پیدا ہوتے ہیں
[It is a pity that this nation did not value anyone. Leaders are born after centuries]”
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check reverse-searched the image and landed upon a website called Currentfy (archive), which published an article under the same headline — “king charles III offered khan to become king of UK” — on 15 October 2022.
The article includes a disclaimer at the end, stating, “Currentfy is satirical news website which have satirical bent and parodies of news. Currentfy consists of fake news stories for mainly humorous purposes.”
Moreover, the ‘About’ section of Currentfy also includes a similar line.
“Currentfy is satirical news websites (sic) which have satirical bent and parodies of news. Currentfy consists of fake news stories for mainly humorous purposes. Our mission is to use humor, irony, to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues,” it says.
Virality
Soch Fact Check found multiple posts on Facebook, such as here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Conclusion: The claim originated from the satirical website Currentfy’s report, which was then shared as real news.
Background image in cover photo: Lians Jadan