Claim: Several videos were posted online, claiming to be from an 8-month investigation presented by Pakistani journalist Ihsanullah Tipu Maseed that prove an alliance between the now non-functional KP CM Sohail Afridi and a terrorist organisation.
Fact: Maseed has not produced any such investigations, and the video is AI-generated.
On 8 October 2026, X user PAK Investigate shared a video where the journalist himself is seen to be presenting the 5 minute investigation video, which is summarised as below:
Afridi has repeatedly pushed back against military intervention in KP, called for better diplomatic ties with Afghanistan, and demanded hard evidence whenever Afghan soil is blamed for local terror attacks. Since this take on better diplomatic ties, ground reality is that terrorist violence has shot up by 40% and border-zone drug smuggling has jumped 40 to 45% Places like Tirah Valley, look less like policy and more like protection for illegal border operations.The core of the issue comes down to money, long-standing connections, and accountability.
The video displays audio recordings with Afridi’s former student-era companions that shed light on his history and early network. Serious allegations have resurfaced connecting his inner circle, specifically his brother Naveed and relative Abdul Hadi, that connect them to drug trade running through the borderlands. The video ends with the main question: is the Chief Minister’s reluctance to name these groups as terrorists and his constant pushback against security forces a genuine political vision, or is it covering for a lucrative setup that profits off instability?
Moreover, the caption posted on X in Urdu with the video is seen below:
قبائلی تحقیقاتی صحافی احسان ٹیپو محسود کا تہلکہ ۔۔ ثبوتوں کے ساتھ دہشت گرد آور وزیراعلی کا گٹھ جوڑ ثابت کردیا۔ 8 ماہ کی تحقیقات کے بعد احسان ٹیپو کی خصوصی تفصیلی رپورٹ جاری۔۔ ہر طرف زلزلہ ہی زلزلہ
[Translation: Tribal investigative journalist Ihsanullah Tipu Masud’s bombshell… Proved the alliance between the terrorist and the Chief Minister with evidence. After 8 months of investigation, Ihsanullah Tipu released a special detailed report… An earthquake everywhere, nothing but earthquakes]
Screenshot from the viral X post.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check looked into Ihsanullah Tipu Maseed’s X profile on 8 October 2026, to check for the origins of the video. On this search, it was found that the journalist had reposted the video shared by “PAK Investigate” on X, saying it was fake. His exact post stated, “LOL. Very lame attempt by whoever did this. 0/10 for effort.”
Screenshot from Ihsanullah Tipu Maseed’s X denying the video was created by him.
AI Detection Tool Results
After Maseed’s denial, we ran the clip through several AI detection tools
SynthID Detector is a public detector portal created by Google DeepMind to detect SynthID, an imperceptible watermark embedded in all content generated by AI whether it be images, videos or audios. The detector is built to recognise SynthID watermarks integrated by partner platforms including OpenAI, NVIDIA, and Kakao. Results for this clip show a SynthID watermark was found in both the audio and video reflecting the use of AI. Hence, the video being fact-checked is not real.
Results obtained from SynthID Detector.
We also ran the video through Truth Scan’s AI Video Detection tool. The analysis came back with a 67% probability that AI was used or that some modifications were made using AI. There is a moderate level of certainty in this finding. However as it is above the average score, we can conclude that the video is highly likely to be synthetic media.
Results obtained from Truth Scan Scanner
Ihsanullah Tipu Maseed denial, along with the presence of a SynthID watermark in the video, leads Soch Fact Check to conclude that the video is not authentic.
Virality
The video has been found on X and Facebook, where the video was shared the most on X.
On X, the video saw an interaction between 45.4K views and 245 likes.
Soch Fact Check has debunked similar false claims about reporting on Sohail Afridi circulating on social media particularly this month.
Conclusion: A video of journalist Ihsanullah Tipu Maseed claiming there is a link between Sohail Afridi and terrorist organisations is AI-generated; Maseed has not conducted any such investigation or made any such revelations on the now non-functional KP CM.
To appeal against our fact-check, please send an email to appeals@sochfactcheck.com