Party Calls for Government Clarification as Social Media Fuels Speculation
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has demanded an immediate clarification from the government regarding widespread rumours about imprisoned party founder Imran Khan’s health, calling on authorities to arrange an urgent meeting between the former premier and his family. The development comes on Thursday, November 27, 2025, as concerns mount over Khan’s well-being following weeks of denied family access and unverified social media claims about his condition.
In a statement posted early Thursday on X, PTI said that “rumours of a despicable nature” were spreading from “Afghan and Indian media, and foreign social media accounts” about Imran Khan’s health. The party stressed that the government holds full responsibility for protecting Imran’s security, human rights, and constitutional rights. PTI also vowed to take every legal and political step to counter these rumours and reveal the truth.
Sisters Denied Access for Three Weeks
The controversy grew after Khan’s three sisters Noreen Khan, Aleema Khan, and Uzma Khan — said jail authorities repeatedly denied them meetings with their brother at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi over the past few weeks. The women questioned the whereabouts of the ex-prime minister, with Aleema telling reporters: “Who knows, maybe Imran has been shifted. Why are they not letting us meet him?”
On Wednesday, the sisters staged a sit-in protest outside Adiala Jail after being denied yet another court-stipulated weekly meeting with the PTI founder.
In a letter to Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr. Usman Anwar, they accused the police of “brutal and orchestrated” violence against them and PTI workers without provocation during their peaceful demonstration over concerns for Khan’s health and whereabouts.
Viral Death Rumours and #WhereIsImranKhan Trends
Several social media accounts on X shared unverified claims about Khan’s death in custody, with Indian media outlets also reporting on the alleged rumours. The hashtag #WhereIsImranKhan trended globally on X on Thursday morning, reflecting widespread concern among supporters and the international community.
Posts circulated claims ranging from assassination allegations involving Army Chief Asim Munir and the Inter-Services Intelligence to theories of slow poisoning, linking Khan’s reported health issues—including vertigo, tinnitus, and deteriorating hearing to deliberate harm. One Afghanistan-based outlet allegedly claimed Khan was killed inside Adiala Jail, though the specific source remained unidentified and unverified.
Adiala Jail Authorities Deny Rumours
Authorities at Adiala Jail categorically denied the circulating rumours, confirming that Imran Khan remains in the facility and is “hale and hearty.” Officials emphasized that all necessary medical care and supervision are being provided to ensure his well-being, describing speculation about his condition as baseless.
“There is no truth to reports suggesting his transfer from Adiala Jail. He is completely healthy,” jail officials stated, according to Pakistani media reports. The administration also confirmed a fixed meeting schedule for political leaders to visit Khan. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja submitted a list of attendees, which includes Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
Violent Clashes Outside Prison
Thousands of PTI workers gathered at Factory Naka near Adiala Jail on Tuesday evening. Some protesters reportedly tried to storm the facility as rumours about Khan’s condition spread. The demonstrations began as a sit-in but soon caused major traffic disruptions on Adiala Jail Road, affecting ambulances, school vans, and daily commuters.
Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen leader Allama Raja Nasir asked the protesters to end the demonstration, and they agreed. Jail officials and police assured Aleema Khan that they would arrange meetings with Imran Khan. They also promised the sisters visits later on Thursday and again next Tuesday, which led the protesters to disperse peacefully.
Defence Minister’s Counterclaims
Defence Minister and PML-N leader Khawaja Asif responded to the controversy on Wednesday. He claimed that Imran Khan enjoys comfortable conditions in detention. Asif alleged that Khan has a television in his cell and receives food from outside. He also said that Khan uses exercise machines, sleeps on a double bed with velvet bedding, and gets personal attention from the jail superintendent.
Contrasting this with his own imprisonment experience, Asif stated: “We used to sleep on the cold floor and eat the food at the jail. It was the month of January, and we had only two blankets, and there was no hot water.” He called on Khan to “listen to his own speech on the jail’s loudspeaker” and to “fear God,” referencing a video in which Khan criticized former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for demanding amenities while imprisoned.
Pattern of Restricted Access
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023, serving sentences in multiple cases, including the £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act for the May 9, 2023 protests. PTI claims that authorities keep Khan in solitary confinement and restrict his access to lawyers, books, and basic items.
Even Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was denied permission to meet Khan despite making several attempts. Legal representatives indicate that an undeclared ban on meetings has been in place for more than a month, intensifying concerns as online speculation about his well-being continues to circulate.
PTI’s Demands and Warnings
PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram demanded that the government issue an official statement regarding Khan’s health and safety, calling for investigation into those spreading rumours and presentation of facts before the nation. The party warned that Pakistan will not tolerate any ambiguity regarding its leader and threatened legal and political action to ensure transparency.
The party’s statement emphasized that meeting denials, combined with the spread of health rumours, create an untenable situation requiring immediate government intervention. PTI insists that allowing family access would be the simplest way to dispel speculation and demonstrate that Khan is receiving appropriate care.
Previous False Death Reports
This is not the first time Khan has been subject to death hoaxes. In May 2025, a fabricated government press release announcing Khan’s death in custody was debunked by fact-checkers, sparking similar outrage among supporters. The recurring pattern of false reports highlights how social media-driven misinformation continues to trigger real-world reactions and political tensions.
Fact-checking outlets have also shown that several videos claiming to show recent violence against Khan were old footage, including one clip from 2013 when Khan was injured in an election rally accident. The phenomenon mirrors similar incidents involving other public figures, including actor Dharmendra, whose family recently criticized media outlets for declaring him dead based on unverified rumours.
Political Implications and Ongoing Crisis
The health rumours come amid heightened political tensions in Pakistan regarding Khan’s treatment and legal proceedings. His supporters have consistently expressed concerns over detention conditions and treatment, while family members allege restricted access despite court orders guaranteeing weekly meetings.
The scheduled meetings with party leaders, including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, reflect ongoing efforts to maintain political cohesion and address internal party affairs during Khan’s extended detention. However, the recurring access denials and conflicting official statements fuel suspicion among PTI supporters about the government’s true intentions.
As Pakistan’s political landscape remains deeply polarized between PTI supporters and the ruling coalition, incidents like these rumours and protest responses demonstrate the volatile nature of Khan’s imprisonment. The situation underscores broader questions about transparency, political prisoners’ rights, and the role of social media in amplifying unverified claims that can trigger mass mobilization and civil unrest.