Info ministry rejects social media claims of unrest in K-P as misleading

Says PTI-linked accounts circulated AI-generated visuals, old and unrelated videos to portray unrest in province

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) on Monday rejected misleading claims of unrest in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), accusing social media accounts of circulating AI-generated visuals, old footage and unrelated videos to portray a situation of chaos in the province.

In a fact-check posted on X, the ministry shared examples of previously circulated material that it said was being misrepresented as evidence of unrest in K-P.

The ministry said accounts linked to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were sharing “AI-generated visuals, old footage and unrelated videos” as evidence of conflict in the province.

“The circulated material includes factory fires, protests over load shedding and footage from Syria, etc; all mis-captioned to manufacture an impression of chaos,” it added.

The ministry also stated that Afghan and Indian social media accounts were amplifying the claims alongside accounts associated with domestic political interests.

 

𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 | 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

◼️ Mischievous social media handles are circulating misleading claims of fabricated unrest in KP, using AI-generated visuals, old footage and unrelated videos.

◼️ The circulated… pic.twitter.com/jCdNZTI01k

— Fact Checker MoIB (@FactCheckerMoIB) October 12, 2026

President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday signed off on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recommendation of imposing emergency rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) amid a deteriorating security situation and the provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism. The move was supported by Articles 232 (Proclamation of emergency on account of war, internal disturbance, etc) and 234 (Power to issue Proclamation in case of failure of constitutional machinery in a Province) of the Constitution of Pakistan.

The move came forth as PTI pushed the federal government to give into its demands that included to press for the release of party founder Imran Khan, accelerate hearings in cases against him and his wife Bushra Bibi, address concerns over his medical treatment and seek an end to restrictions on meetings with him.

The party initially planned to launch the march on September 27, but on September 26 CM Afridi rescheduled the protest to take place on October 4, amid extensive security and traffic restrictions and continuing efforts to negotiate with the federal government. He said the postponement was a unanimous decision of the party’s political committee.

Read: Information ministry rubbishes 'fake and fabricated' NYT report claiming use of PAF aircraft against Houthis

On October 4, the long march began from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat under CM Afridi’s leadership, with participants from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat joining the procession.

The march fizzled out in Swabi on Sunday, October 11, amid heightened security arrangements following the imposition of an emergency and Governor’s rule in K-P.