Claim: In a parliamentary speech, which was termed his ‘farewell address’ on 9 August 2023, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed that over the past 16 months, his PDM government did not incarcerate any political opponents or subject them to harassment. Fact: The claim is misleading. Several prominent PTI figures, political opponents of PDM, were […]
Claim: A viral image shows that the FIA raid in Shaukat Khanum Hospital recovered 260 million dollars in foreign currencies including dollars, pounds, and riyals. Fact: The viral image is from a raid of a Mexican drug lord’s luxury home in March 2007. On 3 September 2023, a Twitter (now X) user (@Drsamina19) shared an […]
Claim: A photo of a news headline saying Bushra Bibi will engage in an 11-day religious ritual to remedy the PTI’s political situation and that PTI sources believe that a solar eclipse may affect Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s political position. Fact: The photo of the news headline was doctored before it was shared by PML-N leader Hina […]
Claim: A picture shows Imran Khan sporting a beard ahead of a court appearance. Fact: The image is digitally manipulated; Khan originally appeared clean-shaved in the picture in question. On 22 August 2023, the Instagram account @iloveimrankhan._ posted (archive) an image showing Imran Khan — the former prime minister and chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf […]
Claim: A social media user shares a video clip of Mahira Khan and states a longer video contains sensitive content. Fact: The video, which is actually behind-the-scenes footage shot by a makeup artist, shows Mahira Khan having a light-hearted conversation with her team and stating that she’s hungry. On 8 August 2023, Twitter user @ssgviews […]
Claim: A picture shows the dead body of Pakistani teenager Arsalan Naseer’s father, who, according to reports, died due to police brutality in August 2023. Fact: The picture is neither related to Arsalan Naseer nor from Pakistan. On 14 August 2023, X (formerly Twitter) user @AamnaFasihi tweeted (archive) a picture of a dead body being […]
Claim: Photos show PML-N supporters taking Humayun Dilawar, a trial court judge, shopping in London. Fact: ADSJ Humayun Dilawar is not seen in any of the pictures. Moreover, the PML-N supporters were in London, while the judge was in Hull. On 8 August 2023, Facebook user ‘Deeba Ajaz Butt’ posted (archive) a combination of five […]
Claim: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on 20 August 2023 from Islamabad. Fact: Umar has refuted reports of his arrest by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The politician’s son also confirmed to Soch Fact Check that the former minister was in Karachi at the time. Umar […]
Claim: A video shows Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters protesting outside Attock jail, following former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest. Fact: The video is from February 2023, when PTI leaders and activists gathered outside Peshawar’s Central Prison to voluntarily give arrests as part of their “Jail Bharo Tehreek”. PTI chief Imran Khan was sentenced […]
Claim: The University of Hull invited Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar for judicial training on human rights and the rule of law in London. Fact: The participants for the training programme, which has been running since 2014, are selected by their respective High Courts. The University of Hull clarified that it has […]
Claim: Salman Ahmad, a close aide of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, posted a photo of a secret document claiming another cypher was leaked. Fact: The cypher was posted by a parody account of the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), or DG ISPR, in July 2023. Its informal language, spelling errors and lack […]
Claim: Imran Khan said that you can’t take his name on television because that would mean stripping Asim Munir’s father. Fact: Imran Khan did not make a statement about COAS Asim Munir’s father On 1 June 2023, a video went viral on Twitter, claiming that Imran Khan made a derogatory comment about Chief of the […]