Viral video does not show Captain Safdar speaking in Imran Khan’s support, is dubbed over

Posts from multiple users across different social media platforms since January 18, 2025, shared a video clip of PML-N’s Captain Safdar allegedly speaking out in support of PTI founder Imran Khan. However, the video is dubbed over.

Claim

Video of Captain Safdar speaking out in Imran Khan’s support, criticising PM Shehbaz

Rating Justification

The iVerify Pakistan team investigated this content and determined that it is false.

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan conducted a keyword search to find the original source.

HOW IT STARTED

The iVerify Pakistan team was alerted on Jan 20 about a post on X and requested authentication for the content.

On Jan 18, an X user, who appeared to be a PTI supporter, posted a video of Captain Safdar allegedly speaking out in support of Imran and criticising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the country’s economic woes. He also called for the accountability of judges and generals.

The post was captioned: “Captain Safdar on fire. This nation is calling out for Imran Khan.
A commission should be formed to hold these judges and generals accountable and punish them. Shehbaz Sharif has turned Pakistan into Sri Lanka. This simple man has stripped Maryam Nawaz and the entire Sharif family of their dignity.”

The transcript of the relevant portion of the clip spanning over two minutes is reproduced below:

“Pakistan is calling out to you, calling out to Imran Khan. Now, a new direction will be formed. Give the country direction. Form a national commission. These journalists and judges should be punished. Punish them and the country will improve … Shehbaz Sharif made this country Sri Lanka.”

The post gained 93,000 views and was re-shared 1,000 times.

The video with a similar caption was also widely shared by other users across different social media platforms as can be seen here, here, here, and here on X, on TikTok here and here, and on Facebook here, here, and here.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality, to satisfy the public’s request seeking authentication for the claim and the highly implausible nature of the video since it showed Captain Safdar praising Imran when the Sharif family and the PTI founder are bitter political opponents.

A keyword search for “Captain Safdar press conference” yielded a video on the official YouTube channel of news outlet GNN titled: “PMLN Leader Captain (R) Safdar Press Conference with Trader,” posted on January 27, 2023.

The video showed Safdar wearing the same clothes as seen in the viral clip, confirming its connection.

Two key discrepancies were identified after the 34-minute press conference was reviewed to investigate the authenticity of the viral claim.

At the beginning of the viral video, Captain Safdar is allegedly heard saying, “The nation is calling for Imran Khan.” However, a closer review revealed this was a dubbed overlay.

In the original video, at the 10:40-minute timestamp, Safdar is praising Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s efforts towards strengthening the economy followed by his quote: “Pakistan is calling for the nation to stand up.”

Secondly, the viral clip showed Safdar saying, “Shehbaz Sharif turned Pakistan into Sri Lanka,” but the original showed he actually named Imran, not PM Shehbaz, at the 10:16-minute mark.

Safdar held the press conference with traders to address Pakistan’s political and economic challenges. He had called for the formation of a national commission to hold judges and journalists accountable for decisions he believed had harmed the country.

He had criticised Imran Khan, alleging that his policies had led Pakistan towards an economic crisis similar to Sri Lanka’s. He had also condemned the judiciary, referring to it as a “termite” undermining the nation, and emphasised the need to value Pakistan’s sovereignty and work collectively to prevent further decline.