AI-Clone of Jailed Imran Khan Launches Campaign Rally, Gets Millions of Views

In what is being hailed as Pakistan's first ever virtual rally, Imran Khan has addressed his supporters vie social media platforms from prison.

The Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party used artificial intelligence (AI) to make a four-minute message from Khan, headlining a “virtual rally” hosted on social media.

The speech was written by Imran Khan and approved by his lawyers, after which PTI's social media team laid over a video containing Khan's AI-generated image as well as photos from previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rallies and earlier speeches by him.

Khan's speech has been viewed by more than six million people so far, despite internet disruptions.

What Did AI-Clone of Imran Khan Say?

In his virtual speech the former premier said, "My fellow Pakistanis, I would first like to praise the social media team for this historic attempt. Maybe you all are wondering how I am doing in jail. Today, my determination for real freedom is very strong. Our party is not allowed to hold public rallies and our people are being kidnapped and their families are being harassed."

He further spoke about why PTI had staged the “virtual power show” explaining that the PTI party has been facing blackout on national media and a ban on physical gatherings.

"The party that has the support of 75% of the people is being kept out of the electoral process,” Khan claimed in his AI-generated video speech. "PTI is not allowed to hold worker conventions or gatherings," he added.

Reported Internet Disruptions

Members of PTI and civilians that Sputnik spoke with said they experienced internet disruptions which was also reported by NetBlocks, an internet tracking company.

A senior political analyst, Arif Hameed Bhatti, said that his digital platforms were not working for over four hours on Monday.

Meanwhile, activist Usama Khilji hailed PTI for the “innovative” method of bypassing the current ban on public rallies. Similar sentiment was expressed by a political analyst and PTI supporter from Lahore, who asked to remain anonymous.

"PTI's virtual rally has set supporters on fire! We are excited and hopeful after months of despair. Hearing Imran Khan speak like that to his supporters has ignited our faith once again. No one can take away our fundamental right of casting a vote," the analyst told Sputnik.

Senior Pakistani journalist, Siddique Jaan, said that Imran Khan's speech has left the other political parties in shock.

"Imran Khan's speech was viewed by millions of people and that has shocked the PML-N party who has not released any statements following PTI's address. The other parties are in shock. This is a huge success for PTI and Imran Khan," Jaan told half a million of his YouTube subscribers in Urdu.

He added that tens of thousands of overseas Pakistanis are already expressing their will to come to Pakistan for the general elections and cast their vote following the virtual rally.

Meanwhile, PTI shared clips of overseas Pakistanis gathered together in different cities around the world to watch Khan's virtual address, waving PTI flags in solidarity.

Imran Khan has been in jail since August this year following a conviction in a case related to the illegal selling of state gifts he received as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. Though he got bail in that case, he remains locked up in Adiala jail after he was indicted for allegedly leaking state secrets.

Khan denies the allegations and says the cases against him are fabricated by the government and the country's military to keep him and his party out of the upcoming general elections in February.

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