Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
Doctored Video Targets Former Pakistan Chief Justice Amidst Political Criticism
A video clip circulating online, purportedly showing retired Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa admitting to biased rulings against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has been identified as digitally manipulated. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had publicly criticised Justice Isa for alleged prejudice in handling court cases involving their jailed leader, Imran Khan. However, the viral footage of Justice Isa is fabricated; he made no such admissions during the original interview, which predates his tenure as head of the Supreme Court. This misinformation campaign aims to discredit the judiciary amidst ongoing political tensions in Pakistan.
An Urdu-language post on X, dated March 9, 2025, exemplifies the criticism leveled against the former Chief Justice. The post accuses “the hypocrite Qazi Faez Isa” of attempting to “absolve himself of all the abuses committed against Imran Khan and (Pakistan) Tehreek-e-Insaf, by blaming the system, meaning the army chief.”
The deceptive clip features Justice Isa in an interview, where he appears to state: “Pakistan’s system is a bit complicated. If you think that as a chief justice I had all the powers, then you are wrong.” He further seems to add, “My role in all the cases you are talking about was limited. Yes, some powers that are not visible in the media also have an impact in these cases which I cannot name here.”
Overlaid text in the manipulated video amplifies the false narrative, claiming: “I had no enmity with Imran Khan, but it was the system which turned against him. You cannot give independent decisions in Pakistan as chief justice.” The post garnered over 60,000 views, demonstrating the reach of this disinformation.
Screenshot of the fabricated X post, captured on March 26, 2025.
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Supporters of Imran Khan, along with the PTI, have widely disseminated similar content across social media platforms like X and Facebook. These posts reiterate the party’s accusations that the Supreme Court, under Justice Isa’s leadership, delivered a series of unjust rulings. This amplification of claims contributes to the ongoing debate surrounding the fairness of legal proceedings against the former prime minister.
Imran Khan, aged 72, has been detained since August 2023 and faces approximately 200 charges, which his party asserts are politically motivated. His legal battles have become a focal point of political contention in Pakistan.
Since his arrest, Khan has been convicted in four separate instances. While two convictions were overturned, sentences in the remaining two cases are currently suspended. This complex legal situation underscores the volatile political landscape in Pakistan.
Removed from power via a no-confidence vote in 2022, the former cricket star has since initiated an unprecedented campaign openly criticizing Pakistan’s military establishment. His actions mark a significant departure from traditional political discourse in the nation.
Political analysts suggest that military leaders wield substantial influence in Pakistan, acting as key power brokers. However, military officials routinely deny any involvement in political affairs, maintaining a stance of neutrality.
Audio Forgery Confirmed
Investigations have confirmed that the circulating video is indeed digitally manipulated, with fabricated remarks inserted into the audio track. This disclosure substantiates claims that the footage is part of a disinformation campaign.
A reverse image search conducted on Google, utilizing keyframes from the suspect clip, traced the footage back to a longer video hosted on the Oxford Union’s YouTube channel. The original video was published on October 10, 2022.
The authentic YouTube video is titled “Justice Qazi Faez Isa: Pakistani Supreme Court Justice | Full Q&A at The Oxford Union,” and features Justice Isa delivering a speech and participating in a question and answer session. This event provides the genuine context for the misrepresented clip.
During the Oxford Union event, Justice Isa discussed the judiciary’s role in Pakistan, referencing a Supreme Court decision from April 2022. That ruling deemed Imran Khan’s dissolution of parliament unlawful and mandated a no-confidence vote on his government. However, his remarks were related to past events and not an admission of bias.
Crucially, at no point in the original, unedited video does Justice Isa confess to judicial bias against Imran Khan, directly contradicting the assertions made in the false social media posts. The manipulated video deliberately distorts his words to create a false impression.
Furthermore, it is important to note that in October 2022, when the original interview took place, Justice Isa was serving as a Supreme Court judge, not as Chief Justice. He assumed the Chief Justice role later, on September 17, 2023. This timeline further undermines the claims made in the doctored video concerning his influence during the period in question.
Comparison of screenshots: the fabricated post (left) versus the original YouTube video (right).
The assessment of digital forensics experts at GetReal Labs, provided to AFP on April 4, further supports the conclusion of audio manipulation. They suggested that the audio in the clip is likely AI-generated, citing a “mismatch between the lips and the audio.” This technical analysis reinforces the claim of fabrication.
AFP has consistently debunked false information related to the legal situation of the jailed former prime minister. This instance is part of ongoing efforts to counter misinformation in the Pakistani political landscape.