Imran Khan Has Not Been Released, Old 2023 Video Goes Viral

A video circulating on social media claiming that former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has been released from jail has been found to be old and misleading.

The video was shared on August 20, 2026, by several social media accounts with claims that Khan had been granted bail in all cases and was now completely free.

However, the footage is not from August 2026. The video was originally recorded and published on May 12, 2023, when Khan was granted interim and protective bail in several cases.

Fact Check

The viral video shows Imran Khan speaking from inside the Islamabad High Court and asking his supporters to remain prepared for a peaceful protest.

The original footage was found on Imran Khan's official YouTube channel, where it was uploaded on May 12, 2023, under the title "Get ready for peaceful protest | Chairman Imran Khan Exclusive Message to Nation."

The video was recorded shortly after Khan's arrest by Rangers at the Islamabad High Court on May 9, 2023, in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

On May 11, 2023, the Supreme Court declared the manner of his arrest from the premises of the Islamabad High Court invalid and unlawful and directed him to appear before the high court.

On May 12, the Islamabad High Court granted Khan interim bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The court also provided temporary protection from arrest in several other cases.

Khan remained inside the court for several hours following the hearings. During the original video, he said he had been granted bail and questioned why he was still being kept at the court. He also called on his supporters to prepare for a peaceful protest if the court's decisions were not implemented.

The remarks have now been taken out of their original context and presented as a fresh announcement of Khan's release.

Imran Khan's Current Status

The video resurfaced amid renewed attention surrounding Imran Khan's health and medical treatment in custody.

Khan has remained incarcerated at Adiala Jail since August 2023.

On August 18, 2026, the Supreme Court directed authorities to transfer Khan to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for examination and treatment by a medical board.

The federal government subsequently challenged the order, while authorities later took Khan to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a medical examination before returning him to Adiala Jail.

The hospital visit did not mean that Khan had been released from custody.

Why the Claim Is Misleading

The viral posts use footage from May 12, 2023, while presenting it as a new statement from August 2026.

Although Khan was granted interim and protective bail in several cases in May 2023, the relief was temporary and did not mean that he was permanently released from all cases.

There is no credible evidence that Imran Khan has been released from Adiala Jail in August 2026.

The original date of the video and records of Khan's continued incarceration establish that the viral posts are presenting old footage as a current development.

Viral Spread

The video was shared across Facebook and Instagram, with at least 22 posts identified carrying the footage or making the same claim.

Posts with visible engagement figures had collectively received more than 88,000 likes or reactions and over 147,000 views.

Several accounts also used similar captions and hashtags while presenting the 2023 footage as a new announcement.

Conclusion: The viral video showing Imran Khan announcing his bail and freedom is from May 12, 2023, not August 2026. Imran Khan has not been released from jail, and the posts circulating the old footage as a recent development are misleading.