Imran under fire for using AI-generated photo to boost narrative

Info minister Marriyum Aurangzeb says Imran's 'lies' were revealed by French TV channel

Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI), released a video on Friday to honour the resolute women engaged in what he described as a struggle for ‘real freedom’.

The video comprises clips and photographs illustrating the clashes that ensued between PTI supporters and the law enforcement forces subsequent to the arrest of the former premier earlier this month in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

Titled "Sinf-e-Ahan", the video culminates with an image portraying a woman boldly confronting the riot police.

"The way Pakistani women stood up for Haqeeqi Azadi, they will be remembered and become part of our democratic history. Also what will never be forgotten is the brutality of our security forces and the shameless way they went out of their way to abuse, hurt and humiliate our women," Khan wrote in his tweet along with the video.

The way Pakistani women stood up for Haqeeqi Azadi, they will be remembered and become part of our democratic history.

Also what will never be forgotten is the brutality of our security forces and the shameless way they went out of their way to abuse, hurt and humiliate our… pic.twitter.com/Ea1lzBCh1Q

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 19, 2023

"Hundreds were languishing in jail in terrible conditions. This too won’t be forgotten."

However, it has come to light that the image was generated through the employment an artificial intelligence (AI) software. International media outlets have also conducted investigations, confirming this fabrication.

France 24 reported that the AI-generated photo and two out-of-context videos were used on social media in support of former prime minister.

Truth or Fake - Pakistan political turmoil: these ‘PTI protest’ images aren’t real
➡️ https://t.co/5jySXkf4MB pic.twitter.com/w5FulPjhGI

— FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) May 17, 2023

“An AI-generated photo and two out-of-context videos are being presented as images from Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Insaf nationwide demonstrations in support of former prime minister Imran Khan. Vedika Bahl takes a closer look at the misinformation that's circulating, in this edition of Truth or Fake,” France 24 captioned the fact-check video with.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, while slamming Imran for sharing the fake image, said that the former premier ridiculed the security personnel by claiming that his female supporters were being targeted by law enforcement agencies.

"In fact no such incident occurred and his lie was exposed by a television channel from France," she said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

“On May 19 in a tweet, Imran Khan uploaded pictures of Rangers and police in front of a woman’s picture created by artificial intelligence,” she said, adding that Khan and his party tried to give a wrong impression that his party’s female supporters were victimised by law enforcement agencies but the French TV channel revealed the truth. It categorically stated that no fundamental rights of anyone were violated during the crackdown on May 9 arsonists, she added.

Marriyum said that Khan was the mastermind behind the May 9 arson attacks and his so-called condemnation of the tragic incidents would not absolve him of responsibility.

“Imran Khan had been planning such terrorist activities for the past 14 months when he was thrown out of power through the democratic process of no-confidence motion,” she said.

Had the PTI miscreants been punished in the PTV attack case in 2014, Radio Pakistan building would not have burnt on May 9, she remarked. Marriyum said that the entire building of Radio Pakistan Peshawar was burned including its entire archive.

She said that the video and audio messages of PTI leadership were on the record encouraging attacks on state and military properties. She expressed the resolve that these miscreants would be punished according to the law so that no one could dare repeating such acts in the future.

(With input from APP)