A video of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif diving into a canal to beat summer heat went viral this Eid Ul Azha. Interestingly, there are multiple videos of PMLN leader diving into the same canal, posted to the internet between 2016 and now.

Asif is wearing the same swimming costume in each of the videos and jumps from the same iron railing of the bridge.

As in earlier videos, the latest video shows the PMLN leader, wearing tshirt and shorts, precariously placing himself on the fence of bridge with support from people and then falling feet first into the water.

Khawaja then pulls up above the water and swims ahead, eventually joined by other men from the bridge. Some of the men appear to be lifeguards.

Khawaja Rehan Nasim of Aaj News says the the latest video was recorded on Friday when Khawaja Asif visited Motra canal. He was accompanied by his personal staff and a few journalists, who recorded the video.

Nasim says a dive into Motra canal has become an annual ritual for Khawaja Asif who says it was his favourite place to take a dip.

He has been taking the dive for many years in a row. Hence, there are multiple videos of him at the exact same location.

The first of these videos emerged in June 2016 and another surfaced in 2019.

Every year, the authorities in Punjab prohibit swimming in dams and canal during Eid holidays under Section 144.

A notification was issued this year too.

However, the local administration amended the notification, allowing Khawaja Asif to get around the ban, said sources.

Note: An earlier version of this article said an old video had gone viral. The error is regretted.