Viral image of Imran Khan being taken away in a wheelchair by law enforcement personnel at Pims, Islamabad

RATING JUSTIFICATION

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

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan conducted a visual and forensic analysis using AI detection tools and a keyword search to trace the original source.

Multiple users, a majority of whom appear to be PTI supporters, have been sharing an image on social media platforms TikTok and X since June 7, 2026, purportedly showing incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan being transported in a wheelchair by law enforcement personnel at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). However, the photo is AI-generated.

Imran has remained incarcerated in Adiala jail while facing multiple legal cases. In early 2026, concerns over his health intensified after his legal team reported that he had developed central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), resulting in significant vision loss in his right eye.

The former prime minister was subsequently taken to Pims in Islamabad for an eye examination and follow-up treatment under government supervision. The hospital later stated that he was clinically stable. At the same time, PTI leaders and Imran’s legal team continued to demand treatment at a hospital of their choice and access for his personal physicians, keeping public attention focused on his health. He has since been regularly taken to Pims for procedures.

HOW IT STARTED

On June 7, Arif Ahmadzai, ex-minister for mines and minerals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, per his X bio, shared an image on TikTok, allegedly showing Imran being transported in a wheelchair by law enforcement personnel at Pims.

The post gained approximately 189,000 views.

A pro-PTI account on X, based on its profile picture and past posts, shared the same image the same day, with the following caption: “Can anyone please tell me if this image is original or made with artificial intelligence? Please tell me in the comments.”

The post gained 37,200 views.

The same image was subsequently shared by several other pro-PTI accounts on X and TikTok, as seen here, here, here, here, here, and here; collectively gaining 38,000 views.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to keen public interest in Imran’s health.

A keyword search to corroborate whether any other credible Pakistani or international media outlets had recently reported Imran’s Pims visit or run the image did not yield any results.

Inspecting the image for visual discrepancies revealed a distorted shadow or object on the uniform of the security personnel pushing the wheelchair.

Moreover, the name tags on the security personnel’s uniform are blurry, a common indicator in visuals generated using AI.

Additionally, several faces in the background have blurred edges, with prominent facial structures not clearly visible.

When reached out, a resident of Islamabad, who recently visited Pims, confirmed to the iVerify Pakistan team that the boards inside the hospital are red and white, not blue. The same was also corroborated by pictures available online showing the facility’s interior.

The image was subsequently analysed using multiple AI detection tools. TruthScan flagged the photo as 84 per cent AI-generated.

AI or Not labelled it as having a 76pc probability of being AI-generated.

Sightengine, another detection tool, flagged it as 99pc AI-generated image.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that a viral image shows Imran Khan being taken away in a wheelchair by law enforcement officials at Pims is false.

The image is AI-generated.