Viral visual attributing statement about army chief to journalist Muneeb Farooq

Rating Justification

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

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan conducted a reverse image search to find the original post.

Posts from multiple users on social media platform X since June 25, 2025, were circulating a visual of digital news outlet Azaad Urdu, which attributed an alleged statement about Field Marshal Asim Munir to journalist Muneeb Farooq. However, the visual was digitally altered and doctored.

HOW IT STARTED

On June 25, a visual of digital news outlet Azaad Urdu was shared on X by a user who appeared to be a PTI supporter, based on his past posts. The visual featured a statement attributed to journalist Muneeb Farooq.

The text on the image read: “Until the field marshal dies, two things won’t happen: There will be no elections, and Imran Khan will not be released from jail.”

The caption of the post read: “Muneeb Farooq’s advice to the nation to pray for the field marshal’s death.”

The post was viewed over 82,000 times.

The same visual was also shared by PTI leader and former adviser to prime minister on accountability and interior, Shahzad Akbar. His post received more than 36,000 views.

Several other users on X also circulated the same visual as can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and keen public interest in affairs related to PTI founder Imran Khan and the army chief.

A reverse image search led to a post shared by the official X account of Azaad Urdu on February 28, 2025.

The original text on the visual reads: “Until 2027, a few things won’t happen: There will be no formation of a national government, no elections will be held, and Imran Khan will not be released from jail.”

The visual also included a QR code in the bottom-left corner. Scanning the code redirected to an X post containing a video clip of the journalist making the statement. However, in the clip, he did not talk about or mention the army chief.

The full episode of the ARY News talk show programme ‘Khabar’ from February 27, 2025, was reviewed as well, confirming that at no point did Farooq talk about or mention the chief of army staff.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that a visual from digital news outlet Azaad Urdu, circulating on social media, attributes a statement about the army chief to journalist Muneeb Farooq is false.

The visual circulating online has been manipulated and is doctored.

Evidence and References

Feb 28, 2025, Azaad Urdu X post:
https://perma.cc/L79L-QYUK

Feb 27, 2025, ‘Khabar’ YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-l7GHq5zY4