Viral video showing Imran khan praising Nawaz Sharif

Rating Justification

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

To reach this conclusion, the iVerify Pakistan team conducted a keyword and reverse image search to investigate the video.

PML-N supporters were sharing a video on social media platform X on September 30, claiming that it showed PTI founder Imran Khan praising PML-N President Nawaz Sharif. However, the original video actually shows Imran praising PPP founder and former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The PTI and PML-N, along with their founders, are bitter political opponents who frequently criticise each other in all manner of ways.

HOW IT STARTED

On September 30, a PML-N supporter posted a 28-second long clip showing Imran Khan apparently praising Nawaz as an independent leader who stood up for the country’s honour.

The post’s caption said: “I found the clip that the PML-N social media team didn’t even pick up. I have countless differences with Nawaz Sharif, but he is an independent leader who stands for the honour of Pakistan.”

The post received 100,700 views and was reshared 1,300 times.

The post did not provide any relevant details such as the date or location of the alleged speech. The user was followed on X by the account of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The same video was also shared by other users with the same quote of Imran Khan as can be seen here, here, here and here.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to verify the claim due to its virality and public interest in the political relations between Imran and Nawaz, as well as because the video seemed distorted.

It can be heard in the viral clip that the audio suddenly distorts at the 3-second and 9-second mark when Imran utters Nawaz’s name and the tone and volume are not in sync with the rest of the speech as if the audio has been dubbed over.

A keyword search for terms from Imran’s address yielded a YouTube video uploaded by news channel 24 News on March 15, 2022.

In the 90-second clip, the PTI founder can be seen addressing an Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad on March 15, 2022. During his speech, he said: “I may have had many differences with Zulfikar Bhutto, he did many wrong things, but today I must say that he was a leader of great integrity and self-respect.”

He praised the PPP founder for unifying the Islamic world and not bowing down to anyone.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that a video shows Imran Khan praising his bitter political rival Nawaz Sharif is false.

The video actually shows Imran praising Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in his address while the viral clip is dubbed over with Nawaz’s name.

Evidence and References

March 15, 2022, 24 News YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQjO3WAfoB8