Rumours that Imran Khan died in jail sent shockwaves across Pakistan but prison officials say the rumours are false. Here’s what really happened, and why people are so worried.
It all started when social-media claims spread that Imran Khan had passed away while locked up in Adiala Jail. The buzz grew fast and by Monday, hundreds of people and supporters had gathered outside the jail in Rawalpindi, demanding proof. Panic and anger stirred when police reportedly clashed with the former prime minister’s sisters, who had come to check on him. The sisters, part of a waiting protest, said officers attacked them even though they were not doing anything illegal.
By Tuesday the prison stepped in to calm the chaos. In a public statement, jail officials said Imran Khan is alive, “fully healthy,” and still under medical care. They denied all claims about his death or hospital transfer, calling the rumours “baseless.”
The authorities also noted Khan had access to regular medical supervision and no change in location or status. This reassurance came just a day after rioting broke out outside the jail gates.
Still, the incident laid bare deep mistrust and fear. Many supporters believe Khan has been kept in harsh conditions, cut off from family and lawyers, and barred from visits even though the courts had ordered regular access. His sisters said officers repeatedly denied them meetings and even assaulted them when they tried.
Now the demand is loud: supporters want full transparency about the conditions inside the jail, and an impartial investigation into how the death rumours erupted especially since the claims came from far-flung social media posts that may have been fueled by misinformation.
For now, the message from Adiala: Imran Khan is safe, and alive. But the anger, the fear, and the demand for clarity among his followers remain very real.
