Viral image of PTI founder Imran Khan doing push-ups in Adiala jail

RATING JUSTIFICATION

The iVerify Pakistan team has reviewed this content and determined it is false.

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan reviewed the image for visual inconsistencies and conducted a forensic analysis to assess its authenticity.

Several users across multiple social media platforms since December 9, 2025, shared an alleged image of PTI founder Imran Khan doing push-ups in Adiala jail. However, the image is AI-generated.

Imran has remained incarcerated for over two years since August 2023 due to ongoing legal proceedings, despite several acquittals and suspended sentences. In January 2025, he was handed a 14-year prison sentence in a corruption case linked to the Al-Qadir University Project Trust.

A United Nations’ special rapporteur warned on Dec 12 that he is being held in conditions that could amount to inhuman or degrading treatment, calling on Pakistani authorities to comply with international norms and standards.

The PTI on Dec 13 expressed grave concern over the report, saying it exposed Imran’s “degrading treatment” during his incarceration and amounted to a “blatant violation” of international law and fundamental human rights.

HOW IT STARTED

On Dec 9, an image was shared on X by a user who appears to be a PTI supporter, based on her past posts and profile photo, that allegedly showed Imran doing push-ups on concrete ground inside a fenced courtyard. A chain-link fence is visible in the foreground, while two police officials can be seen standing in the background and watching.

The caption of the post read, “Adiala jail’s brave prisoner.”

The post garnered over 57,000 views.

The user did not provide any information about when or by whom the image was taken, nor did she clarify whether the image was real or AI-generated.

On Dec 14, another user, also appearing to be a PTI supporter, shared the same image with the following caption, “This picture of Imran Khan working out is viral on social media today.”

This post received more than 68,000 views.

Another PTI supporter shared a slightly altered version of the image in which five to six police officials can be seen standing in the background. This post accumulated over 145,000 views.

Moonis Ilahi, a PTI leader, also shared the same image on X with the following caption, “Rana Sanaullah used to say that prime minister Imran Khan cannot even spend a few days in jail.”

His post was seen by more than 113,000 users. However, a prominent PTI supporter called the image AI-generated in the comment section, to which Ilahi also said, “Seems like it.”

Several other users on X also shared the same image while questioning its authenticity and asking whether it was real or AI-generated, as seen here, here and here, gaining 19,000, 224,000 and 41,000 views, respectively.

More examples of PTI supporters sharing the same image can be seen here and here.

The same image with a similar claim was also shared on Facebook, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here and here; on TikTok here, here, here, here, here, here, and here; on YouTube, here, here and here, and on Instagram, as can be seen here and here, collectively gaining almost 10,000 likes.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and keen public interest in the incarcerated former premier.

A visual examination highlights several inconsistencies, such as the name tag on the police personnel appearing to be unreadable and consisting of gibberish text, a common indicator of AI-generated imagery.

The same anomaly is present in another variation of the image, in which the police officer on the right can be seen wearing a plain black shirt with no visible logo or name tag.

Additionally, the brand logo on the trousers worn by Imran is distorted.

A keyword search showed that the image was not shared officially by the PTI or any of its leaders, nor was it run in mainstream news reports from credible media outlets.

It is important to note that in June 2024, the federal government informed the Supreme Court that Imran has access to specific facilities inside Adiala jail. According to a report published by Dawn on June 6, 2024, his prison barrack includes a television, a room cooler, a study table, a chair, and reading material. He is also provided with an exclusive indoor gallery where he can walk twice daily, along with exercise equipment and a stretching belt for physical fitness.

However, the report does not indicate any access to outdoor exercise areas. The facilities described are limited to indoor spaces, contradicting the visual setting depicted in the viral image, which shows an open, outdoor courtyard.

When contacted for comment, Dawn’s Rawalpindi correspondent Tahir Naseer also said that no such space or enclosure exists inside Adiala jail.

The image was further analysed through Google’s AI assistant Gemini, which identified it as being AI-generated.

Additionally, AI-detection tool Fake Image Detector indicated that the image was modified or computer-generated.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that a viral image shows PTI founder Imran Khan doing push-ups in Adiala jail is false.

The image is AI-generated.

Evidence and References

June 6, 2024, Dawn news report:

https://www.dawn.com/news/1838175