The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) sought to dispel uncertainties surrounding an essay attributed to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, published in The Economist on Tuesday. The piece, expressing Khan’s concerns about the potential cancellation of upcoming general elections, had gained traction on social media, triggering objections from the caretaker government.

In response to suspicions about the authorship, PTI clarified that the essay was not “compiled through the use of artificial means.” While the content aligned with Khan’s historical stance, doubts arose about whether he personally wrote the article. Party sources, though hesitant to elaborate on the transmission of the writing from prison, insisted that the words were indeed Imran Khan’s.

Addressing doubts during a discussion with journalists at Adiala Jail, Khan stated that he had “verbally dictated” the article. However, he clarified that he did not physically write it; instead, it was based on points he had dictated, later transformed into written form through the use of artificial intelligence.

Sources close to Khan revealed that the article contained facts previously mentioned by the PTI founder at different times, suggesting it was a consolidation of information available on social media platforms. These details were allegedly shared with visitors during prison meetings, possibly reaching someone at the magazine who compiled them into an article.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), PTI rejected media reports on the content and “mode of publication” of the essay. The party released a statement asserting that the essay was authored by Imran Khan himself, vehemently denying the use of artificial means, including artificial intelligence.

Despite these clarifications, the controversy surrounding the essay persists, with skeptics questioning the transparency of its creation and publication, adding a layer of intrigue to the unfolding political narrative.