A manipulated video of an interview with Aleema Khan, sister of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has circulated widely on social media, misleading viewers about her statements regarding the Pakistani army chief, Asif Munir. The altered clip portrays Aleema Khan accusing Munir of being a “radicalised Islamist” who desires conflict with India. This misrepresentation has drawn attention from various media outlets, including British broadcaster Sky News, where anchor Yalda Hakim identified the video as a “deepfake” and described it as “deeply disturbing.”
In the original interview aired on December 3, 2025, Aleema Khan attributed her family’s lack of access to Imran Khan to Munir’s actions. She claimed that Munir was responsible for the situation surrounding her brother, who has been jailed since 2023 on multiple corruption charges, which he denies. Supporters of Imran Khan allege that he is being denied visits from legal counsel and family, further complicating his legal situation.
The original interview, which is part of a segment from “The World with Yalda Hakim,” features Aleema Khan discussing her brother’s imprisonment and quoting their sister regarding Imran Khan’s view of Munir’s responsibility for his circumstances. She states, “I hold him responsible for what’s being done to me because it is against all regulations,” referencing the alleged restrictions placed on her brother’s communication.
The misleading video claims that Aleema Khan criticized Munir’s role in the tensions between India and Pakistan, specifically referencing an incident in May 2025 when both nations were on the brink of conflict. The original footage does not support these assertions, and Aleema Khan did not label Munir as an “Islamist” or comment on the India-Pakistan conflict during the interview.
After widespread concern sparked by rumors of Imran Khan’s possible death, his supporters gathered outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on November 26, 2025, demanding information about his well-being. On December 3, 2025, Aleema Khan confirmed that Imran Khan was “alive and well” after securing a visit with him in prison.
Investigation into the video revealed that it had been digitally altered, with a reverse image search confirming the authenticity of the original interview on Sky News’ official YouTube channel. The audio analysis, conducted using the AI voice detection tool Hiya, indicated a 98 percent probability that the audio was artificially generated.
Sky News followed up the incident with a report highlighting the manipulation of Aleema Khan’s interview. Yalda Hakim reiterated the serious implications of deepfake technology in her public statements and reiterated the importance of verifying information, especially in politically charged environments.
As misinformation continues to proliferate online, this incident underscores the need for vigilance in discerning authentic content from manipulated narratives. The public’s response to the deepfake highlights the broader implications of technology in shaping perceptions about political figures and events.