New Delhi: A deepfake video of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khanum, speaking to Sky News presenter Yalda Hakim has now led to controversies and concerns. The video shows Khatun making strong claims about Pakistan’s military leadership and advocating for closer ties with India.
The clip also appeared to show Khanum accusing General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, of being a “radicalised Islamist” bent on provoking war with India, while portraying her brother as a “pure liberal” intent on fostering peace.
Sky News swiftly denounced the footage as fabricated.
“This is terrifying — a deepfake of my interview with Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, is circulating,” Yalda Hakim wrote on X before adding, “We did NOT discuss any Pakistan-India war. This clip is completely fake.”
The real interview, according to the network, focused on Khan’s legal troubles and his prospects as he faces a series of charges brought by Pakistani authorities. In the authentic exchange, Aleema argued that her brother’s continued detention is an attempt by the state to silence public support.
“He represents 90 per cent of this country,” she said. “They basically want to suppress the people of Pakistan.”
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‘Deepfake technology is frightening’
The emergence of the deepfake set off a wave of anger online, particularly among Khan’s supporters. Pakistani X user Neel said that the episode “shows how frightening and creepy deepfake technology has become,” accusing elements within Pakistan’s government of weaponising AI to smear political opponents.
Another user, Huma, called out the army for “embarrassing the country just to harass Imran Khan and his family.”
Even a retired Pakistani military officer weighed in, calling for legal action.
“This has been done in a planned manner by few to defame @Aleema_KhanPK and dent your credibility @SkyYaldaHakim. This must be taken to court for defamation, misrepresentation and wrong allegations. Criminals must be prosecuted,” Major retd Asim Awan wrote on X.
Khan has remained behind bars for two years, held at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, since August 2023 on multiple legal cases. Khanum was finally permitted to visit Khan in Adiala jail after protests erupted last week amid global reports of Khan’s death and multiple social media posts by his son, Kasim Khan.
Hakim had later also interviewed Pakistan’s Information Adviser Ahmad Hasan Al-Arabi, where Hakim can be seen asking him if the ISI and the Pakistan military are scared of Khan and have therefore kept him in solitary confinement without access to his family members.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)