Remarks attributed to Shibli Faraz about Imran Khan allegedly attempting suicide twice in jail

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 reverse image search to verify if the respective media outlet shared anything of the sort.

Multiple posts from users on social media platform X since September 28, 2024, circulated news tickers allegedly run by a media outlet that PTI Senator Shibli Faraz remarked that party founder Imran Khan allegedly attempted suicide twice in jail. However, the quotes attributed to the Senate opposition leader are fake and fabricated.

Imran is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail and has been imprisoned since August 2023. Although his sentences in previous two Toshakhana cases were suspended, and he was acquitted in the cipher and iddat cases, he remains in custody for a third Toshakhana case against him.

HOW IT STARTED

On September 28, 2024, a screenshot of news tickers from ABN News was shared on X by a user who according to her past posts, appeared to be a PML-N supporter, showing quotes attributed to Faraz about Imran.

The post’s caption said, “Disclosures by Shibli Faraz on ABN News.”

It then posted the following quotes allegedly attributed to the senator: “Imran Khan attempted suicide twice in jail. The people of Imran Khan’s house want to hang Imran Khan. Imran Khan is sure that he will be sentenced to life imprisonment or hanging by the military court.”

The post was seen by over 9,000 people.

The same collage of quotes and news tickers was shared by another X user, whose post was viewed by more than 6,000 people.

The same screenshot was also shared on social media platform Facebook as can be seen here and here.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to the serious nature of the alleged quotes from a senior PTI leader and keen public interest in the affairs of the incarcerated PTI founder.

A reverse image search conducted to determine if the news outlet ever shared such quotes or tickers led to a post from the outlet on its X account on September 28, saying: “The following tweet contains fake and doctored images using ABN’s name!”

It shared an image of the alleged news tickers overlaid with a large “fake” over them.

Further investigation showed that the PTI also addressed the issue on September 29, on both its X and Instagram accounts, sharing the circulated screenshot and confirming it was fake.

Their captions warned, “Be aware of fake news.”

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that PTI Senator Shibli Faraz made remarks about Imran Khan allegedly attempting suicide twice in jail, among other assertions, is false.

The quotes attributed to the PTI leader are fake and fabricated, having been confirmed as such by both the party and the news outlet who they were allegedly attributed to.

Evidence and References

September 28, 2024, X post of ABN News:
https://perma.cc/TLY9-LLHG

September 29, 2024, X post of PTI:
https://perma.cc/778W-JCS9

September 29, 2024, Instagram post of PTI:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAfjWYCxLtS/?igsh=MXBmenZteTN6M2hhNw%3D%3D