“Imran Khan died and beaten” on social media

Social media broke out this week, with posts incorrectly claiming former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was shot or beaten at his home. The video was widely distributed on WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter), showing the sweat bleeding and being taken away by the guards. None of these claims are true.The shared video is not recent. It dates back to 2013, when then Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Khan fell off a forklift while being carried onto the stage at an election rally in Lahore.
As Times of India reported in 2013, “Imran Khan was injured after taking a forklift on stage at an election rally in Lahore.” When the platform lost its balance before reaching the stage, he was about 15 feet next to his security personnel.
Despite being ten years old, the camera surfaced and gained appeal, especially through WhatsApp forward. The content is misleading and its use in the current context is an obvious example of misinformation.

As the rumors intensified, some posts developed further, accusing Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munier of orchestrating the death of Imran Khan. These claims quickly attracted attention and exacerbated tensions that had been exacerbated.

However, these assertions have been debunked by multiple independent sources. Grok AI is a famous fact checking account on X, published, “It is wrong to claim that Asim Munir was imprisoned to kill Imran Khan. Imran Khan was still alive and sentenced to 14 years in prison, and as confirmed by sources like Al Jazeera and Wikipedia, there is no reliable report that his death indicates his death. There is tension between khan and Munir, and there is tension between khan and Munir, but there is no evidence to support the contract.
While the positions were proven to be false, another press release on the death of Imran Khan is being issued during judicial detention. However, this news has not been confirmed. According to the press release, on Saturday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Imran Khan died while in judicial detention. “The Pakistani government acknowledges the seriousness of the situation. We are committed to ensuring full transparency as we identify the causes and accountability behind this tragic incident,” the statement said. Government officials said a comprehensive investigation is underway. They are working with the United Nations and independent observers to ensure that inquiries remain impartial. Authorities stressed their commitment to safeguarding human rights, especially in detention centers.

The spread of fake news only complicated the already tense atmosphere. While the initial post claiming Khan was killed or beaten was wrong, his confirmed death turned the chaos into mourning.

This situation exposes the danger of misinformation in the digital age, where one misleading video (out of context) can mislead millions before it can catch up with the facts.

During a time of political sensitivity and public grief, officials urged the public to avoid sharing unverified content. They say the focus should be on accountability, stability and justice.