2017 video of traffic jam in LA shared as supporter gathering at Imran Khan rally

Viral video does not show supporters gathered for the Haqeeqi Azadi March in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The video shows traffic jam in Los Angeles in 2017.

A video showing a massive traffic jam is widely being circulating on social media with the claim it shows supporters gathered for the Haqeeqi Azadi Marchin Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Following the recent assassination attempt on Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan, he attended his first rally in 26 November. The “Haqeeqi Azadi March Jalsa” in Rawalpindi, Pakistan witnessed thousands of Imran Khan’s supporters.

The caption of the viral video states, “EXCLUSIVE — Live scenes in and around Murree Road, Rawalpindi, for the HaqeeqiAzaadi March.”

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Fact Check- 

We started our investigation by observing the video very carefully and found the logo of ‘ABC News’ on the right top corner of the video. Keeping this in mind, we ran a keyword search that led us to the same video tweeted by ABC News on 22 November 2017. The caption of the video states, “Aerial footage shows bumper-to-bumper traffic in Los Angeles as Americans get a head start on Thanksgiving travel.”

ABC News posted a longer version of the viral video on their official YouTube channel on 29 November 2017. The caption states, “Insane Traffic in Los Angeles.”

A further keyword search led us to several news reports related to the video, Independent UK stated thousands of Thanksgiving commuters were forced to inch their way through Los Angeles after a “nightmare” traffic jam reduced a major freeway to virtual gridlock.Aerial footage showed a river of white headlights and red brake lights at a near-standstill on I-405 as families all tried to get home for the holiday at the same time. The Indian Express mentioned that the video shows Los Angeles 405 Freeway.

Next, we looked for the footages of “Haqeeqi Azadi March Jalsa” in Rawalpindi where Imran Khan was supposed to give speech. You can see the video of the fans and supporters below.

Conclusion-

Fact Crescendo found the claim made along with the viral video to be False. Viral video does not show supporters gathered for the Haqeeqi Azadi March in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The video originally shows a traffic jam during thanksgiving at LA in 2017.