ISLAMABAD: A doctored photo of Imran Khan has gone viral after the court granted bail to the PTI founder in eight cases about the May 9 incidents. On August 21, 2025, the Supreme Court of Pakistan granted bail to former prime minister Imran Khan in eight cases. Soon after, a photo began circulating on social media, allegedly showing Khan leaving the courtroom with a beard. The image quickly attracted attention, with many users believing it was taken during his most recent court appearance.
However, the claim is false. The viral image is not recent but an edited version of an older photograph, according to a Geo TV report published today.
On August 22, an Instagram account posted a picture of Imran Khan with a grown beard, surrounded by uniformed police officers. The caption suggested that the photo was taken during his latest Supreme Court appearance, following his bail. Within hours, the same image was widely shared across social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter).
While some users accepted the image as genuine, others were skeptical. One X user even asked publicly: “Is this a real picture of Imran Khan?”
The Fact
A fact-check revealed that the photo is not recent. A reverse image search showed that the original photograph was captured on May 23, 2023, during Khan’s appearance at a court in Islamabad. In the original photo, Khan is clean-shaven.
The viral image circulating now has been digitally altered, with a beard added to make it appear as though it was taken recently. Several media outlets, including Geo News, had published the original version at the time. Additionally, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s official X account had shared the same picture in May 2023.
This confirms that the image was manipulated before resurfacing online in August 2025. The circulation of such edited content highlights the spread of misinformation surrounding high-profile political figures, particularly during sensitive legal proceedings.
