On the request of GeoFact, an Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) analysis was conducted to investigate the authenticity of a viral video featuring Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The video in question allegedly features Barrister Gohar urging overseas Pakistanis residing in the United States and other Western countries to participate in a protest scheduled for June 14 outside the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, D.C. According to the claim, the purpose of this demonstration is to “expose the true face of General Asim Munir to the international community,”
Claim:
“As the Chairman of PTI, I urge overseas Pakistanis living in America and West to participate in the protest scheduled for June 14 in front of the Pakistan Embassy in Washington. This demonstration aims to expose the true face of General Asim Munir to the international community. Your presence and voice are crucial in this cause.”
Debunked Source:
https://x.com/Baaghiee/status/1932444207643328751
Fact Check:
To verify the legitimacy of this video and the accompanying statement, an in-depth OSINT investigation was carried out. The analysis began with the extraction of keyframes from the video, followed by reverse image searches to determine whether the visuals had been previously published. Through this process, it was discovered that the image used in the video was an authentic still photograph of Barrister Gohar Ali Khan that dates back to 2023. This strongly suggested that the original image was repurposed and manipulated using deepfake techniques to fabricate the video content.
(Keyframe Analysis)
Deepfake Analysis
In addition to visual verification, AI detection tools were employed to examine both the audio and motion elements of the video. The tools indicated that the audio was 99.2% likely to be AI-generated, meaning that the voice attributed to Barrister Gohar was synthetically produced and not his actual voice. Meanwhile, the video showed only a 1.4% probability of AI generation, which aligns with the finding that the movements were artificially applied to an existing still image. The photograph itself was genuine and had not been generated by AI, but it was animated to create the illusion of a real video.
AI Detection tools concluded that the audio is 99.2& ai generated while the video has 1.4% detection of AI due as original still photograph of Barrister Gohar was used to create movements in the still picture and the picture was not AI generated.
Rating
Misinformation/Propaganda
Conclusion
The findings of this investigation clearly demonstrate that the viral video is a deepfake, fabricated using a real image of Barrister Gohar Ali Khan paired with AI-generated audio. The statement circulated through the video is therefore false and misleading, and it does not reflect any verified or credible communication from the PTI Chairman. This analysis underscores the importance of verifying digital content before accepting it as authentic, particularly in politically sensitive contexts where disinformation can have far-reaching consequences.
ABCDE Framework-Based Analysis
| Actor | The general public, particularly politically motivated individuals or anonymous accounts on social media platforms, were both the sources and amplifiers of the content. |
| Behavior | The video was manipulated using a still image of Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and paired with AI-generated audio. It was then shared widely on social media platforms, falsely presenting it as an authentic video message from the PTI Chairman. |
| Content | The manipulated content was circulated primarily via social media posts, particularly on platforms like Twitter (now X), falsely claiming that Barrister Gohar made a call to protest. |
| Degree | The primary audience for the video was the general public, especially overseas Pakistanis and political sympathizers. The disinformation was mainly spread through Twitter, targeting a politically engaged online user base. |
| Effect | The circulation of this misleading video could have serious implications. It may have incited political tensions among overseas communities, provoked unnecessary protests, and contributed to the spread of mistrust against public officials. In a broader context, such disinformation undermines the integrity of political discourse and can fuel polarization both within and outside the country. |
