US immigration officials ask Pakistani traveller about Imran Khan’s release

A claim is circulating on social media that immigration officers at New York airport asked about the release of Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), from jail. Khan’s followers interpret this as “evidence” that “Imran Khan has gained worldwide fame.”

Zubair Ali Khan, a YouTuber, claimed that when he landed in New York to cover the United States elections, an immigration officer at the airport asked him about the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan from jail. The officer’s inquiry led him to think that “Imran Khan has become Pakistan’s international identity.”

He posted on X (formerly Twitter): “At New York Airport after the immigration officer finished my interview and came to see me off, the Immigration officer asked me, When will Imran Khan be released from jail?

“In amazement, I asked, Are you Asian? The Immigration officer responded, No, I’m Spanish, then he asked, are protests still happening in support of Imran Khan in Islamabad, or is there peace now? Standing at the door, I was quite surprised by this conversation. I told him that things are now calm in Islamabad. Laughingly, I said that when Trump wins the election, Imran Khan will also be released. The immigration officer, while saying goodbye to me, shook my hand warmly and stated, God bless Imran Khan.”

The program host, Adil Nizami, made a similar claim on October 27, asserting that when he arrived at New York airport for U.S. election coverage, immigration officers asked him about the release of Imran Khan.

Social media users lambasted Zubair Ali Khan and Adil Nizami for their made-up claims, which they attributed to immigration officers.

One social media user, Dr Ayoub Chaudhry, commented on X: “This does not happen in America, brother; they have written questions, each of which must be answered and all conversations are recorded. If immigration officers ask even one unnecessary thing, departmental action is initiated against them. Imran Khan is famous, and there is no doubt about it, but what is the need to fool people by telling false stories?”

Former Ambassador to the United States, Hussain Haqqani, made a sarcastic comment: “A few days ago, another journalist told a similar story. However, their immigration officer did not come to let them out. The next reporter would claim that the immigration officer offered to drop him off at the hotel.”

Here are some hilarious reactions: