Rumours of Imran Khan’s death spark chaos, sister ends protest after police assurances

A sit-in led by Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail was called off late Tuesday night after police officials assured the family and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters that the former prime minister was safe. The demonstration at the Gorakhpur checkpost had continued for several hours, with Aleema alleging that she and other women supporters were pushed and roughed up by officers outside the jail gates.

Local media reports say that speculation about Imran Khan’s death in custody erupted abruptly on social platforms, where several unverified accounts claimed that the PTI founder had been assassinated inside the high-security facility. One such handle, styling itself as the ‘Ministry of Foreign Affairs Baluchistan’, alleged that Khan had been killed on orders of Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir and that his body had been removed from Adiala Jail. Some Afghan-based outlets also amplified the claims without evidence, further fuelling anxiety.

However, no official statement from the Pakistan government, the prison administration, or the PTI leadership confirmed the allegations. Authorities have not issued any updates beyond stating that all routine procedures at the jail were functioning normally, according to local reports.

The rumours spread rapidly, largely because Imran Khan has reportedly not been allowed to meet his family for over three weeks, and his party has repeatedly raised concerns over the restrictions placed on communication with him. Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 after convictions in multiple cases that PTI maintains are politically motivated.

PTI leaders say that the prolonged lack of access has increased fears about his wellbeing. In their late-night statement, the party said the situation had become extremely concerning and demanded immediate proof that Khan was alive and unharmed.

Following the online chaos, Khan’s sisters Noreen, Aleema, and Uzma reached Adiala Jail seeking confirmation of his condition. They alleged that police personnel outside the facility used force to disperse PTI supporters, and that women were also beaten during the scuffle. Videos circulating on social media show slogan-raising crowds and heightened tension around the prison area.

After several rounds of discussions with police officers at the spot, Aleema Khan called off the sit-in, saying they had been assured that the former prime minister was safe inside the jail. PTI workers, however, warned that they would resume protests if the authorities failed to provide verifiable evidence of Khan’s wellbeing.