The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has declared a viral video featuring Defence Minister Khawaja Asif as fake.
The ministry said the video falsely portrayed Asif comparing Pakistan’s progress with India. It also clarified that he never made the statements featured in the clip.
Ministry Calls Viral Video Fake
The purported video circulated widely on social media before attracting attention beyond Pakistan.
The nearly one-minute clip appeared to show Khawaja Asif speaking during a press conference. However, the Information Ministry later rejected its authenticity.
Sharing the video on X, the ministry said, “This news is FAKE and the voice in the video is AI-generated.
“Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has not given any such statement. Please verify news from official sources before sharing,” it added.
The ministry’s fact-checking account also shared the same clarification.
What Did the Fake Video Claim?
The fabricated clip appeared to show Asif discussing Pakistan’s progress compared with India.
It portrayed him calling on citizens to examine the country’s situation. The video also claimed that both countries gained independence at the same time.
However, it falsely presented Asif as criticising Pakistan’s progress in several areas.
The alleged remarks included claims about Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The video showed Asif supposedly saying Balochistan had “slipped from our hands.”
It also portrayed him discussing difficulties faced by people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Furthermore, it claimed residents of AJK had taken to the streets for their rights.
The fabricated video then contrasted these claims with India’s progress. It referred to developments in technology, infrastructure and the economy.
The clip also attributed a call for political accountability to Asif.
It showed him supposedly saying, “We have to ask ourselves whether we are a true democracy. Instead of blaming others, we should question our government and policies,”
Ministry Urges Public to Verify Claims
The Information Ministry has urged people to verify information before sharing it online.
The clarification came after the video circulated on social media and attracted wider attention. The purported remarks were also picked up by media outlets in India.
However, the ministry maintained that the voice featured in the clip was AI-generated. It therefore rejected the video as an authentic statement from the defence minister.
The episode highlights the growing challenge of AI-generated content circulating online. In this case, authorities have specifically urged users to rely on official sources before accepting or sharing such claims.
For now, the Information Ministry’s position remains clear: Khawaja Asif did not make the statements featured in the viral video.
