Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Claim
Massive support for former Pakistan PM and PTI Chief Imran Khan following his arrest in Islamabad.
Fact
Over one-year-old video from Karachi, unrelated to ongoing protests in Pakistan over Khan’s arrest.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested from outside the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday over graft allegations, triggering massive protests across the country. The social media platforms are rife with unverified visuals allegedly showing the violence and unrest in Pakistan over Khan’s arrest. One such footage, showing a huge gathering waving PTI flags and raising pro Imran Khan slogans, is being widely circulated, being linked to Khan’s arrest. Newschecker found that the video is over one-year-old, and that it is being shared in a false context.
Several social media users shared the footage claiming to show massive support for the PTI Chief following his recent arrest. The video was also tweeted by @PTIofficial on May 10, 2023 stating, “This was last night, iA the crowds will be bigger today to protect Imran Khan! #BehindYouSkipper”
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.
Also Read: No, ‘Condemn’ Was Not Spelt ‘Condom’ In Placards Against Imran Khan In Pakistan
Fact Check/Verification
On skimming through the comment section of the tweet by @PTIofficial, we spotted multiple users pointing out that the video is old. A few also further stated that the viral clip was taken in Karachi on April 10, 2022.
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the viral footage led us to a Facebook post by @JustPakistaniThingsOfficial, dated April 10, 2022. The post featured a compilation of two videos, including the viral footage, with the caption, “We out here making history! Karachi Millennium Mall (Rashid Minhas).” The video was credited to one “Shaheer Ahmed.”
Ahmed too had shared this post on the same day.
We found multiple Facebook posts from April 10-11, 2022 carrying the viral footage to show a protest in support of Imran Khan in Karachi. Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Viral Image Claiming To Show Imran Khan At Hospital Is 8 Years Old
A Google Maps search for Milinemim Mall, Karachi yielded the location where the video was shot.
Notably, Imran Khan was ousted as the Prime Minister of Pakistan through a no-confidence vote in April, 2022. Soon after, his supporters had taken to the streets against his removal across several parts of the country including Karachi.
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that the video is over one-year-old and does not show recent protests against Imran Khan’s arrest in Karachi.
Result: False
Sources
Facebook Post By @JustPakistaniThingsOfficial, Dated April 10, 2022
Facebook Post By @shaheer.ahmed.56863, Dated April 10, 2022
Google Maps
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
