Imran Khan, the incarcerated former prime minister of Pakistan, employed an audio clip generated through artificial intelligence (AI) to address his supporters in a groundbreaking move within the politics of the South Asian nation. Despite facing internet disruptions, the audio was played alongside a photograph of Khan during an internet rally organized by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. The event garnered over 1.4 million views on YouTube and was attended live by tens of thousands on various social media platforms.
In his speech, Khan highlighted the challenges faced by his party, emphasizing the restrictions on holding public rallies and expressing concerns about the abduction of party members and harassment of their families. With general elections scheduled for Feb 8, Khan urged his supporters to participate actively.
The disruptions to the livestreaming raised transparency concerns regarding the upcoming elections. Users nationwide reported slow internet speeds and throttling, a method used by telecom regulators to restrict streaming on applications. While Pakistan's telecoms regulator stated that the interruptions were under investigation, it noted that overall internet accessibility seemed normal.
Party officials revealed that Khan's speech was generated from a written version that he had approved from prison. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party organized the event due to a state-backed crackdown on physical gatherings, and Khan, who is imprisoned, is restricted from media access.
Murtaza Solangi, the information minister in Pakistan's caretaker government overseeing the elections, did not respond to Reuters' requests for comments. Imprisoned since his conviction on graft charges in August, Khan faces numerous court cases, some of which are held behind closed doors, raising concerns about the right to fair proceedings.
The 71-year-old former cricket star has been embroiled in a political crisis since his ouster last year through a parliamentary vote of confidence. The crackdown on his party followed a May incident where supporters, protesting his brief arrest, assaulted military sites.
Although Khan secured victory in the 2018 general election, his opponents allege that it was facilitated by military assistance, an institution with a historical influence in shaping governments in Pakistan. Khan, on the other hand, attributes his removal to a dispute with the military over the appointment of the chief of Pakistan's primary spy agency, a claim the military denies, asserting it neither supported nor ousted him.
