On July 24, 2025, a forged document titled “Catering Guidelines” from the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, DC, circulated on X (formerly Twitter).
The document falsely claimed that the club does not serve halal food. It was shared by PML-N Digital and others, targeting Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, the sons of PTI founder Imran Khan, who dined there during their U.S. campaign for their father’s release. A fact-check confirmed that the document was inauthentic.
On July 25, 2025, PML-N Digital shared a document stating, “We do not offer halal or kosher food as per restaurant policy.” The post included a photo of Sulaiman and Kasim dining with Congressman Joe Wilson, accompanied by the caption, “Imran Niazi’s sons’ illicit feasting.” A similar post by a PTI critic on July 24 received 63,000 views, alleging that the siblings were consuming non-halal meat. This claim was further amplified by pro-PML-N and pro-military accounts.
"عمران نیازی کے صاحبزادوں کی حرام خوری"
⚫ کیپٹل ہل کلب جہاں قاسم اور سلیمان نے کھانا کھایا وہاں حلال کھانا موجود ہی نہیں ہوتا pic.twitter.com/pQEK5kRDhc
— PML-N Digital (@pmlndigitalpk) July 25, 2025
Fact-Check Findings
A fact-check using Fake Image Detector flagged the document as “computer-generated or modified,” with a 66% likelihood of manipulation. The Capitol Hill Club’s official menus, reviewed on July 25, do not mention any halal or Kosher restrictions. The authentic catering guidelines state, “The Club reserves the right to change the room to a more appropriate size,” which matches none of the fake document’s text.
گروک نے ایک اور اہم انکشاف کردیا 🚨🚨
گروک کے مطابق جس امریکی ریسٹورنٹ کیپیٹل ہل کلب میں کھانا کھایا گیا، اس ریسٹورنٹ میں حلال کھانا دیا ہی نہیں جاتا۔
یوتھی بھائیوں، کان جدھر مرضی سے پکڑو۔
گوشت حلال نہیں تھا۔
اب حرام کو حلال نا بناو #SayNoToKhanzeer https://t.co/SLJQdNZ9ey
— Dr Farhan K Virk (@FarhanKVirk) July 24, 2025
The fake document’s logo was undecipherable, unlike the club’s “National Republican Club” branding. It contained errors like “opporennity” for “opportunity” and incomplete sentences, absent in official menus. These discrepancies confirm its falsity.
Sulaiman and Kasim, who advocate for Imran Khan’s release, visited Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers. The false claim aimed to discredit them, leveraging cultural sensitivities around halal dietary practices.
The rumour’s spread highlights misinformation risks on X. PTI supporters on X countered, with posts like: “Fake news against Khan’s sons exposed!” The fact-check mitigates potential harm, underscoring the importance of verified sources.
Document | Halal/Kosher Claim | Logo Text | Text Errors |
---|---|---|---|
Fake (X) | No halal/Kosher | Undecipherable | Multiple typos |
Official (Website) | None | “National Republican Club” | None |
Data source: Capitol Hill Club website
The viral claim about the Capitol Hill Club’s catering is false. The debunked document underscores the importance of combating misinformation targeting public figures.