A video circulating on social media has misrepresented comments made by Aleema Khan, the sister of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. The altered clip suggests she described Army Chief Asif Munir as a “radicalised Islamist” seeking war with India. However, this version has been identified as a deepfake, leading to widespread misinformation.
In the original interview aired on December 3, 2025, on Sky News, Aleema Khan accused Munir of obstructing her family’s access to Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since 2023 on multiple corruption charges. During the interview, she expressed that Munir was responsible for the alleged mistreatment of her brother but did not make any comments regarding an India-Pakistan conflict.
The misleading clip circulated widely on platforms such as X, where a post claimed that Aleema Khan alleged Munir engineered the May conflict with India to enhance his Islamic credentials. The original context of her statements was significantly altered, raising concerns about the integrity of information shared online.
In her remarks, Aleema Khan quoted another sister who had recently visited Imran Khan in jail, stating, “I hold him responsible for what’s being done to me because it is against all regulations.” This assertion was a clear reflection of her family’s frustrations regarding access to Imran Khan, not a commentary on international relations.
The situation escalated earlier in the month when rumors of Imran Khan’s death prompted protests from supporters of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. On November 26, 2025, supporters gathered in large numbers, demanding answers about his well-being. Following the protests, Aleema Khan confirmed her brother’s status as “alive and well” after a visit on December 3, 2025.
Sky News anchor Yalda Hakim condemned the altered video, labeling it “deeply disturbing.” Further investigation revealed that the audio was likely AI-generated, with a detection tool indicating a 98 percent probability of manipulation.
The original interview is available on Sky News’ official YouTube channel, where it is evident that Aleema Khan did not make any comments implicating Munir in the India-Pakistan tensions. The incident highlights the ongoing issues of misinformation and the impact of deepfake technology on public discourse.
As misinformation continues to pose challenges to accurate reporting, this case serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying sources and claims before sharing content online. AFP has previously addressed similar instances of misinformation related to Imran Khan, further illustrating the critical need for media literacy among the public.
