The publications of PTI followers on multiple social media platforms since Sunday shared a video that showed the founder of PTI Imran Khan with beard. However, the video is manipulated.
Imran has remained imprisoned for more than two years since August 2023 due to ongoing legal procedures, despite several absolute sentences. In January 2025, he was given a 14-year prison sentence in a corruption case linked to the project of the project of the University of Al-Qadir.
On August 23 of this year, a Tiktok user, who seemed to be a PTI supporter based on his previous publications, shared a video that shows Imran with a beard.
The user did not provide any details about when or where the video was recorded.
The video accumulated more than 21.3 million visits and more than 2.3 million tastes.
The same video was also shared by other PTI followers in Tiktok, here and here, where he obtained 4.1my 2.2m, respectively.
Other users also distributed the clip on several other platforms, which can be seen here, here, here, here and here.
In addition, an image of Imran with beard was also widely shared online, with examples available here and here.
A verification of facts began to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and public interest in Imran.
An inverse image search led to a publication X shared by the official PTI account on May 23, 2023.
The title of the publication said: “The president of PTI, Imran Khan, today in ATC (anti -terrorism court), Islamabad.”
In the image, Imran seems to be well shaved, with a white Shalwar Kameez with a dark blue vest, identical to his outfit in the viral video. The police visible in the image, one bearded and another shave, also coincide with those seen in the viral video.
A keyword search for news reports around that date led to a Geographical news Report of the same day, entitled “NAB Grills Imran Khan in a case of liquidation of £ 190 million”.
According to the report, Imran was granted bail in eight cases, while his wife Bushra Bibi obtained bond in the case of liquidation of £ 190 million. Later that day, NAB questioned him about the Al-Qadir Trust and the agreement with a Property Magnate, looking for records of donations and writings of trust. Imran had denied irregularities, maintaining that the funds remained with the Supreme Court and no personal benefit was taken.
The same image of PTI’s official publication also appeared in the news report, further confirming its authenticity.
Therefore, the verification of facts determined that the statement that a viral video shows Imran Khan with a beard is FAKE. The video clip is manipulated.
This fact verification was originally published by Iverify Pakistan, a CEJ-IBA and UNDP project.
