Fact-check: No, Saad Rafique did not call Imran Khan's removal a 'conspiracy'
The speech circulating online was delivered by Khawaja Saad Rafique in 2022
Updated Thursday May 02 2024
A video circulating on various social media platforms allegedly depicts Khawaja Saad Rafique, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), suggesting that former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted from office as a result of a conspiracy. Rafique can also be heard praising Khan’s tenure, spanning from 2018 to 2022.
However, the video has been manipulated to convey a false narrative.
Claim
On April 23, a user on X (formerly Twitter) shared a 17-second video accompanied by a caption claiming that Rafique had labelled Khan's removal from office in 2022 a "conspiracy."
The user wrote, "Khan aimed to modernise Pakistan. He championed meritocracy and bolstered the country’s GDP. No one can minus anyone. Imran Khan is a fact — Saad Rafique."
The account also shared a video allegedly featuring Rafique making these remarks.
Similar claims gained traction on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
Fact
The speech circulating online was delivered by Rafique in 2022, and is not recent. The video clip has been edited and assembled to give the false impression that Rafique is commending former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In reality, Rafique's original speech criticises Khan's governance and draws comparisons to the administrations of his own political party, the PML-N, in 2013 and 2022.
A reverse image search on Google indicates that the video was initially uploaded online on December 26, 2022. According to news reports, Rafique delivered the speech in Lahore at an event commemorating the anniversary of his father's death.
On that day, two Pakistani news channels broadcasted the speech, which is still available on their respective YouTube channels here and here.
In his speech, Rafique repeatedly criticises the tenure of former prime minister, suggesting that Khan is seeking unconstitutional means to regain power after being ousted by a vote of no confidence in April 2022.
He also condemns the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2017, contrasting it with Khan's situation.
Rafique's exact words are: "Nawaz Sharif was disqualified through a conspiracy. What did Nawaz Sharif do? What sin did he commit? That he championed meritocracy? That Nawaz Sharif bolstered Pakistan's GDP? All the progress in the country was initiated by Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif."
Clips of the video and its audio were later edited together to create the false impression that Rafique was discussing Khan's disqualification from contesting elections.
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