Pakistan
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) hosted a virtual Jalsa that saw former Prime Minister Imran Khan addressing his supporters through an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated voice clone. The event unfolded from behind bars, showcasing Khan’s resilience as he campaigned for his party ahead of an anticipated general election.
It was broadcasted live across all official PTI social media platforms and expertly hosted by the PTI’s social media team.
In the weeks leading up to the event, PTI strategically generated significant anticipation on social media.
On PTI’s social media platforms, the initial viewership data for the #PTIVirtualJalsa revealed an audience in the millions, reflecting the widespread engagement with the event.
- 1.4 million on Facebook
- 1.2 million on YouTube
- 1.5 million on X space
The virtual Jalsa drew substantial traction, with hundreds of thousands of viewers tuning in on various social media platforms, including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The marathon session, hosted by PTI’s social media leads Jibran Illyas and Ali Malik, lasted nearly five hours. It commenced with Quranic recitations and naats, capturing the essence of the event.
The virtual gathering became a global affair, with overseas PTI chapters organizing smaller gatherings in countries such as the US, Canada, UK, Scotland, France, Greece, and Sweden. These international chapters passionately expressed support for Imran Khan and Pakistan.
The event featured speeches from various PTI leaders who had been in hiding for the past six months due to government crackdowns. Speakers included Seemabia Tahir, Dr. Shahbaz Gill, Kanwal Shauzaib, Zulfi Bukhari, Muzamil Aslam, Zartaj Gul Wazir, Taimurr Ali Jhagra, Atif Khan, Firdous Shamim Naqwi, Ali Muhammad Khan, Khalid Khurshid, Qasim Suri, Ali Amin Gandapur, Moonis Elahi, Hammad Azhar, Raoof Hasan, Omar Ayub, and Gohar Khan.
The event paid tribute to those who sacrificed for Haqeeqi Azadi over the past 1.5 years, especially the women unjustly held in groundless cases since May 9th. It honored the memory of PTI workers and supporters who lost their lives due to state fascism.
Pakistan’s late journalist Arshad Sharif Shaheed was remembered as a national hero committed to truth and justice.
Gohar Khan, PTI’s interim chairman, announced the impending publication of PTI’s election manifesto, emphasizing Imran Khan’s continuous role as the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
The highlight of the Jalsa was Imran Khan’s special message from Adiala Jail, conveyed through an AI-generated voice. Despite the challenges, the #PTIVirtualJalsa garnered millions of views on social media platforms, dominating the top trends in Pakistan.
The virtual Jalsa was seen as a de facto referendum by the people of Pakistan ahead of the scheduled general elections on February 8, 2024. Journalists, analysts, celebrities, and media personalities collectively hailed the event
