Image of PTI protesters praying during recent protests

Rating Justification

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

The iVerify Pakistan team conducted a reverse image search and found the picture was old and unrelated to recent events.

Multiple users were sharing an image on social media platform X since October 4, 2024, claiming it showed PTI protesters praying on the street amid chaos during recent protests. However, the image is an old one and dates back to May 9, 2023, from protests in Karachi.

On October 4 and 5, PTI protesters staged rallies in Islamabad and Lahore, respectively, which escalated to the point of clashes with the police and tear gassing. The PTI has carried out multiple rallies across the country in recent weeks, to raise its voice against the imprisonment of its founder Imran Khan and the Election Commission of Pakistan’s delay in implementing the Supreme Court’s July 2024 reserved seats verdict.

HOW IT STARTED

On October 5, former anchor Moeed Pirzada shared a picture on social media platform X of protesters praying on a road, with black smoke visible in the background and PTI flags being used as prayer mats.

The picture was shared with the caption, “The power of faith, determination and will! Greetings to the brave and zealous people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad!”

The post was viewed more than 165,000 times and was reshared 4,400 times.

The image with similar captions was also widely shared by other users as can be seen here and here, with 151,400 and 8,021 views, respectively.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was carried out to verify the claim regarding the shop due to its high virality and public interest in the ongoing situation in Islamabad.

A reverse image search yielded the same picture shared on X by journalist Ziaullah Hamdard on May 9, 2023, with the simple caption: “PTI workers during protest.”

A keyword search with the above date led to the same picture from the same date on the Facebook page of PTI’s Karachi chapter.

The caption for the post said: “Maghrib prayer during the protest in Sharea Faisal Karachi.”

Countrywide protests erupted on May 9 last year after the paramilitary Rangers whisked away Imran from the Islamabad High Court in a corruption case. While the protests were underway, social media was flooded with footage of rioting and vandalism at various spots, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence and General Headquarters, the army’s head of office in Rawalpindi.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: MISLEADING

The claim that a viral image shows PTI protesters praying on the street amid recent protests is misleading.

The image is actually from the party’s protests in Karachi on May 9, 2023, and sharing the picture while omitting its original context has the potential to misguide the public.

Evidence and References

Ziaullah Hamdard May 9, 2023, X post:
https://perma.cc/YF3C-CBKD

PTI Karachi May 9, 2023, Facebook post:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=622490929903811&set=a.250192453800329