Fact check: Viral visuals of Imran Khan from recent Islamabad hospital visit are doctored or old

Visuals show Imran stepping down from an ambulance or inside a vehicle during his recent hospital visit

Multiple users, a majority of whom appear to be PTI supporters based on their past posts, have been sharing visuals across social media platforms on August 21, 2026, purportedly showing incarcerated party founder Imran Khan from his recent hospital visit. However, the visuals are AI-generated or old.

On August 21, a fan account of former anchorperson Imran Riaz shared an image on X, allegedly showing Imran stepping down from the ambulance, with the following caption: “Breaking news. All restrictions have been shattered, no one could stop it, Khan’s picture has gone viral.”

The post gained 286,500 views.

Former anchorperson Sabir Shakir also shared the same photo with the following caption: “Thousands of efforts were made to stop Imran Khan’s picture, all of which failed.”

The post racked up 193,000 views.

Another pro-PTI account shared the same image with the following caption: “Grok says that this image is real.”

The post accumulated 76,600 views.

A high-quality version of the same image was also shared by a pro-PTI user of X, which gained 46,000 views. “Murshid’s first picture,” the caption read.

Several other pro-PTI accounts on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and X also shared the same image, as seen here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, collectively gaining 49,000 views.

Some users were seen in the comments disputing the nature of the image, saying it was AI-generated.

A slightly different, clearer and brighter version of the image was also being shared.

A pro-PTI account shared the image and gained 103,500 views.

Journalist Fakhar Ur Rehman also shared the same image on X with the following caption: “Now who has leaked these pictures and what is the motive? It certainly indicates to subside the much talk about Pakistan’s incarcerated ex-PM İmran Khan health or provide an argument or evidence to the sitting government, which has challenged the Supreme Court to shift İmran Khan to a private hospital? Or to show that the order has been complied with? By now, the government must have confirmed or denied reports that İmran Khan has been shifted back to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.”

The post gained 12,400 views.

Image of Imran inside car

Similarly, another image also got traction on several social media platforms, allegedly showing Imran inside a vehicle under red lights.

On August 20, a pro-PTI user, based on their past posts, shared an image on X allegedly showing Imran in a car while being transferred to Al Shifa International Hospital with the following caption: “Breaking news: All restrictions have been smashed, no one could stop it, Khan’s picture has gone viral, Jani’s meeting has happened”

The post gained 135,000 views

Another PTI supporter, based on their past posts on Facebook, shared the same image in a similar context with the following caption: “Go ahead then, PTI supporters — have a look for yourselves”

The post was liked by 3,500 users.

A London-based social media activist, who appears to be a PML-N supporter based on their past posts, reposted the same visual with the following caption: “Brother, don’t go blind on the captain, you’ve turned him into the Dajjal”

The same visual in a similar context was shared by several other PTI and PML-N supporters on different social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and X, as seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, collectively accumulating 22,000 views.

Video of convoy taking Imran to hospital

A video was also widely shared that allegedly showed the convoy taking Imran to the hospital.

The footage shows several vehicles and motorcycles travelling in what appears to be an official security convoy, with flashing police lights and sirens audible in the background.

An X account, which appears to support the PTI based on its previous posts, shared the viral video with the caption: “Imran Khan is coming.”

The post accumulated approximately 121,000 views.

Around the same time, an X user who identifies him as a journalist and had previously worked with The Nation and Nawa-i-Waqt Group per his Facebook profile, shared the same video with the caption: “Imran Khan is being cruised to Shifa International Hospital amid stringent security sending a loud, urgent warning noise from emergency vehicles like police cars with blaring sirens, fire trucks, or public safety systems.”

The post accumulated approximately 16,000 views.

Former anchorperson Jameel Farooqui also posted the same video with an Urdu caption that translates to: “Khan Sahib has blown through all the protocols — welcome to Shifa.”

His post accumulated approximately 88,000 views.

Nasim Siddiqui, whose X profile identifies him as a foreign correspondent for Express News, also shared the same video with an Urdu caption that translates to: “Check out Khan’s arrival. Road to Shifa Hospital.”

His post accumulated approximately 56,000 views.

Another X account that also appears to support the PTI based on its previous posts shared the footage with the caption: “They’re just patrolling everywhere, and there’s still no sign of Imran Khan; he’s yet to come.”

The post accumulated approximately 32,000 views.

Islamabad-based journalist and Arab News Pakistan editor Mehreen Zahra-Malik also shared the same video with the caption: “Adiala to Shifa.”

Her post accumulated approximately 19,000 views.

Senior Pakistani journalist and host of On The Front with Kamran Shahid on Dunya News, Kamran Shahid, also posted the same footage from his official X account with the caption: “Imran Khan finally transferred to the hospital!”

His post accumulated approximately 15,000 views.

Bol News also shared the same video on its Bol News Breakings Facebook page with an Urdu caption that translates to: “A glimpse of the convoy, special scenes,” accompanied by hashtags including #ImranKhan and #AdialaJail.

The post accumulated 6,000 views.

On the same day, RT India, the English-language India-focused media operation of Russian state-controlled broadcaster RT, also shared the video with the following caption: “Khan was taken to the hospital from Adiala Jail amid concerns over his deteriorating health. He was moved back to prison after the medical examination.”

The post accumulated 831 views.

The identified posts collectively accumulated more than 203,000 views.

Methodology

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the visuals due to high virality and keen public interest in the PTI founder’s health. There is also curiosity surrounding Imran, given that he has been behind bars for three years and has not yet made a public appearance.

A keyword search was conducted to verify whether any credible Pakistani or international media outlets or official PTI platforms had shared the same visuals of Imran stepping down from an ambulance or inside the vehicle, but it yielded no results.

Ambulance image

The image was analysed using the OpenAI tool for the SynthID watermark and detected a SynthID signal, indicating that the image likely originated from or was edited using OpenAI tools.

SynthID works by embedding an invisible digital watermark directly into AI-generated media content. Unlike normal metadata, the watermark forms part of the content itself and is designed to remain detectable even after the media is doctored, such as cropping, applying filters or lossy compression.

The photo was subsequently analysed using other AI-detection tools. Undetectable AI flagged the visual as nine per cent real, indicating it was AI-generated.

Meanwhile, TruthScan flagged the image as 91pc AI-generated, and UncovAI labelled it as 74pc doctored.

The slightly different, clearer and brighter image was examined for visual discrepancies and showed that the name tags on the uniforms of the two cops wearing Islamabad police uniforms appeared distorted and contained gibberish writing — a typical indicator of AI-generated content.

Moreover, the arm badge visible on the left sleeve of one of the officers did not resemble the official Islamabad Police shoulder patch. The uniforms shown in the viral image also do not appear to display the Pakistan flag insignia on the sleeves.

The image was subsequently analysed using multiple AI detection tools. TruthScan flagged the viral image as 96pc AI-generated.

Similarly, Hive Moderation flagged the viral image as 44pc AI-generated.

Google’s SynthID analysis determined that part of the viral image has been edited or generated using Google AI.

These findings establish that the viral image is not authentic and has been generated using AI tools.

Image of Imran inside car

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

A TikTok user who appeared to be a PTI supporter based on their past posts shared the same visual on July 17, 2026.

@khanedits254

#CapCut part8Pakistan ImranKhan fypシ゚viral

♬ الصوت الأصلي - ابومــ𝄠ــعتز❥⛎

Similarly, former PTI MPA and provincial minister for communication and works in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shakeel Ahmed, also shared the same visual on his TikTok account on July 20, 2026.

@shakeelahmad.mpa

 

♬ original sound - 𝙐 𝙎 〽️ 𝙄 🪽✨

A further search showed that a PTI supporter, based on their username and past posts, had shared a similar image on X on July 14, 2026.

پاکستان اور دنیا بھر میں رہنے والے خان کے چاہنے والوں کو السلام علیکم ❤️ pic.twitter.com/bIVSiHiMKt

— Mudassir Hassan (@Mud_PTI) July 14, 2026

The image was analysed using OpenAI’s content verification tool, which checks files for provenance signals associated with OpenAI-generated content, including C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) metadata and SynthID watermarks.

The tool detected a SynthID signal, indicating that the image likely originated from OpenAI’s generative tools.

OpenAI notes that a detected signal reliably indicates that the content likely originated from its tools.

Furthermore, forensic analysis of the image using AI detection tools such as Undetectable AI, Fake Image Detector, Truth Scan, and Deep AI also labelled it as AI-generated content.

Another Forensic tool also identified the source of the content, labelling it 99pc generated through OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Video of convoy taking Imran to hospital

A reverse image search was then conducted using keyframes extracted from the viral video to determine whether the footage had appeared online before August 20.

The search led to a TikTok post uploaded on April 11, 2026, containing the same footage. The post was titled “High security protocol in Islamabad, Pakistan” accompanied by hashtags such as #jdvance #usa🇺🇸 #iran #pakistan.

@hamzarajpoot_03

High security protocol in Islamabad Pakistan #pakistan #jdvance #usa🇺🇸 #iran #pakistan

♬ original sound - Hamza✨❤️

United States Vice President JD Vance had arrived in Islamabad on April 11 to lead a high-level US delegation for peace talks with Iran mediated by Pakistan.

A subsequent keyword search uncovered another TikTok post from April 11 containing the same footage with no specific caption related to JD Vance’s visit to Pakistan.

@desert.creatives4

High security protocol in Islamabad for elite-level international movement. Today’s environment demanded maximum security presence as high-profile individuals gathered under strict protocol. This is how professional bouncers protocol mobility & VIP security systems operate in real-time. ✔ High-alert security deployment ✔ Professional bouncers & protocol teams ✔ Controlled movement & protection ✔ Elite-level security standards For those who understand real security — this is the standard. 📍 Pakistan 📲 Follow for elite security & protocol content #VIPSecurity #ProtocolMovement #IslamabadSecurity #EliteProtection #protocol

♬ original sound - 🇦🇪HaBiBi iN DuBai🇦🇪

A video on Instagram in a post from April 21 was also found. While its caption only read “Islamabad High Alert On”, hashtags accompanying the post included references to the Islamabad talks and the Iran war.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The exact origin and context of the video are still being determined, but it is confirmed that it is unrelated to Imran’s hospital visit.

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, resulting in significant vision loss in his right eye.

He was reportedly transferred to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital for a medical check-up and treatment in the early hours of August 21 following the Supreme Court’s orders to the government to do so. However, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar later clarified that Imran was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a government-run facility where the PTI founder has undergone treatment for an eye ailment in recent months.

Imran was declared medically fit and taken back to Adiala jail later.

Fact-check status: False

The claim that viral visuals show Imran Khan stepping down from an ambulance or inside a vehicle during his recent hospital visit or his security convoy is false.

The visual of him stepping down from the ambulance is AI-generated, while the one of him inside a vehicle with red lights and the convoy transporting him are old.

This fact check was originally published by iVerify Pakistan — a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.