Listen to article

Several people, the majority of whom were PTI supporters, have been sharing visuals on multiple social media platforms since October 11, 2026, allegedly showing the tense law and order situation after the imposition of governor rule and emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, the visuals are old and unrelated.

CLAIM

Viral visuals of tense law and order situation in KP after the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency

RATING JUSTIFICATION

The iVerify Pakistan team investigated those visuals and determined that they are false.

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

The federal government imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in KP on Oct 11 following the president’s approval of the recommendations by the federal cabinet. The measures have been approved under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.

The decision to impose the emergency provisions came during an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where he was briefed on the security situation in KP. Cabinet members reviewed the situation and took note of the “provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism”, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

A couple of hours after the imposition of emergency was announced, KP Information Minister Shafi Jan, who had been accompanying now-dysfunctional KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on the PTI’s long march, claimed the latter had been taken into custody.

Later, the PTI issued a statement, condemning the “arrest” of Afridi and others and describing it as an act of “political victimisation and an attempt to weaken the province’s elected leadership and democratic institutions”.

Communication and internet services have also been disrupted in the province.

HOW IT STARTED

On Oct 11, a person shared a video on Instagram of a large crowd and security personnel in the street with the following caption: “In Peshawar, people actually stood up to the army.”

The post gained two million views.

The same account shared the same clip on X with a similar caption, gaining 302,100 views.

Another account shared the same video with a similar caption, accumulating 232,100 views.

A pro-PTI user, based on their past posts, posted the same clip with the same caption, gaining 169,000 views.

Several other users also shared the same clip on X, as seen here, here, here, here, here, collectively gaining 163,000 views.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its high virality and keen public interest in KP’s situation after the changes to its governance and the information gap amid the connectivity and internet issues.

A reverse image search was conducted to trace the source of the video, which yielded the same visual shared by several social media accounts in early July 2026.

A Facebook user shared the same video on July 9, 2026, with the following caption: “FC and public go face to face at Quetta Civil Hospital.”

An Afghan media outlet, Angeza Radio, also posted the same clip, dated July 9, 2026, with the following caption: “Popular objections against the Pakistani army have increased in Balochistan. After 35 policemen were kidnapped by anti-Pakistan militants and the bodies of 21 people were found in the Mangal Ziarat area of Balochistan, some residents of the area started protesting against the Pakistani army. According to reports, the protestors did not allow the participation of the Pakistani army in the funeral ceremony of the killed farmers and demanded that the army leave Balochistan.”

A keyword search was conducted, which yielded a news report by a local Pakistani news outlets Daily Times and Independent News Pakistan, dated July 10, 2026, with the following headline: “Bodies of 21 abducted policemen moved to Quetta from Ziarat.”

According to the news report, bodies of 21 policemen who were abducted during a militant attack in Ziarat have been transferred to Quetta.

Therefore, the claim that a viral video shows people standing up to the army is misleading. The video is old from July 9, 2026, showing people protesting against army in Quetta.

Other visuals:

Video of people protesting in Peshawar

Another clip was shared by a fan account of YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan on X on Oct 12, allegedly showing protest in Peshawar, with the following caption: “Mohsin Naqvi, look”

The post racked up 300,100 views.

Several other pro-PTI users also shared the same clip on X, as seen here, here, here, here and here, collectively gaining 50,000 views

A reverse image search was conducted to trace the source of the image and yielded a TikTok video, dated August 26, 2026, featuring the same visuals as the viral ones, with the following caption: “The Thai Nguyen - Hanoi Expressway is one of the most important arterial roads, playing a key role in connecting trade and economic development between Thai Nguyen province and Hanoi.”

@thainguyenxinchao
Thái Nguyên
♬ âm thanh gốc - Thái Nguyên Xin Chào - Thái Nguyên Xin Chào

Further reverse image search yielded a Facebook post, dated August 26, 2026, with the following caption: “Thai Nguyen will not sleep tonight! Vietnam wins against Thailand – and the streets of Thai Nguyen are bursting with red! The red flag with a yellow star fluttered in the wind, and cheers echoed throughout the streets. People took to the streets, celebrating a victory that was truly something to be proud of! There are moments when just looking at something makes you realise how much you love Vietnam.”

A keyword search using relevant terms such as “Vietnamese national team”, “Fans in Thai Nguyen” and “win” revealed a report published by Vietnam. Vn on August 26, 2026, titled “Fans in Thai Nguyen celebrate the victory of the Vietnamese national team.”

As per the news report, after the Vietnamese national team’s victory over the Thai national team, fans took over the streets around Vo Nguyen Giap Square to show support and cheer their team

Therefore, the claim that a viral video shows people protesting in Peshawar is false. The video is old from August 26, 2026, showing sports fans celebrating in Vietnam.

Video of security personnel running in the street amid gunfire

Another video was shared on Oct 11, 2026, by an X user who appears to support PTI, based on his past posts, allegedly showing security personnel running in the street amid gunfire with the caption: “May Allah’s mercy be upon the KP situation, which is out of control.”

The video showed what appeared to be security personnel running in the streets amid heavy gunfire.

The post received 143,800 views.

However, a reverse image search yielded that the footage is from Syria and was shared three days earlier, rather than showing the situation in KP.

According to an Iranian media outlet, Kurd Press, unrest broke out in Hasakah, Syria, on October 8 and 9, 2026, following the destruction of Kurdish signs and symbols around a Syrian flag-raising ceremony in Al-Salam Square. Protests spread to other parts of the city, with security forces reportedly firing into the air to disperse crowds. Several civilians were reported injured by gunfire, although the final number of injuries remained unclear.

The same visual with a similar context was also covered by an Iraqi news outlet, Kurdistan 24.

The claim that a viral video shows security personnel running in the street amid gunfire is false. However, the video is old from October 8, 2026, from Syria.

Video of protesters pelting military vehicles

A fourth video was shared on an Instagram account that appears to support PTI, based on its past posts, that showed people throwing stones at what appears to be a military vehicle.

The video received 9,000 views.

A reverse image search found that the same footage had circulated in different contexts in 2026.

On June 6, 2026, an apparently pro-PTI account shared it, claiming it was from Gilgit. Earlier, in February 2026, another apparently pro-PTI account on X shared the video, claiming it showed events in Islamabad that month.

However, the footage is two years old and shows clashes in Islamabad during a PTI march in October 2024.

A keyword search was conducted on

A keyword search using relevant terms such as “anti-government rallies”, “protests” and “release of Imran Khan” revealed a report published by Reuters on October 5, 2024, titled “Pakistan police clash with supporters of former PM Khan in Islamabad.”

As per the report, in October 2024, PTI held major anti-government rallies and protests demanding the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and protesting against government restrictions and proposed constitutional amendments. The protest was led primarily by the then KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur and party leaders; PTI supporters attempted to march toward Islamabad’s D-Chowk.

Therefore, the claim that a viral video shows people throwing stones at military vehicle is false. However, the footage is two years old and shows clashes in Islamabad during a PTI march in October 2024.

Video of Peshawar University students marching towards Governor House

Another clip shared by PTI supporters, based on their past posts, allegedly showed Peshawar University students marching towards the Governor’s House in protest against the governor’s rule.

PTI Europe’s official X account shared the same video on Oct 11, showing students in white uniforms marching with the following caption: “Well done, young people of Peshawar University. We will not accept Governor’s Rule or Emergency under any circumstances.”

The post gained 80,000 views.

A video of the same incident from a different angle was also shared by PTI Bannu chapter on X with the following caption: “Peshawar University students have taken to the streets leading to the Governor’s House. Pakistan’s situation, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s situation, is dire. O Allah, have mercy.”

The post gained 60,000 views on X.

The video in a similar context was further shared by several other users, as can be seen here, here, here, here, and here.

However, a reverse image search yielded the same visuals shared by an Indian media outlet, The Free Press journal, on Oct 5, 2025. The article was titled: “Pakistan: Teachers, Students Protest Across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Against Plans To Outsource Government Colleges”.

According to the article, which cites Pakistani media outlet Dawn, teachers and students from government colleges protested in various locations across KP against the decision to outsource low-enrollment colleges and the proposal to require an MPhil degree and research work for teacher promotions.

A keyword search conducted yielded Dawn’s report on the same incident, sharing similar visuals and corroborating the same details.

Therefore, the claim that a viral video shows Peshawar University students marching towards governor house is false. The clip is old from October 7, 2025, showing teachers and students protesting in KPK against the decision to outsource low-enrollment colleges.