Govt officials dismiss health concerns
Islamabad, Nov 28: Rumours over the health and safety of jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan continued to swirl on Friday, even as senior government officials insisted he was “perfectly fine” and denied speculation about any deterioration in his condition. The assurances, however, have done little to calm his family or his party, who say they have been denied access for weeks and have no direct confirmation of his well-being.
The latest round of concern was triggered after unverified Afghan media reports claimed that Khan had died in custody at Adiala Jail. Pakistan has issued no formal statement on the claims. Instead, the vacuum has been filled by conflicting assertions; government advisers calling the rumours baseless, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders pressing harder for proof that Khan is safe.
Family says access blocked for weeks, demands proof of life
Imran Khan’s son, Kasim, renewed his appeal online, writing that it has been 845 days since his father’s arrest and alleging that Imran has been held in a death cell under strict isolation for the past six weeks.
“For the past six weeks, he has been kept alone in a death cell in an environment of complete isolation. His sisters have been barred from every meeting, despite clear court orders. No phone calls, no meetings, and no news of his well-being. My brother and I have not been able to contact our father in any way,” Kasim posted on X. He called the situation “inhumane” and argued that the blackout was a “deliberate attempt” to prevent the family from knowing Imran’s condition.
Family members and PTI workers have staged demonstrations outside Adiala Jail demanding access. A party delegation was turned away again on Thursday, adding to the sense of alarm. The party said it has been more than three weeks since anyone from the family or legal team was allowed to meet the former premier, who has been in custody since August 2023 and is serving a 14-year sentence in a corruption case.
Kasim has called for urgent intervention from human rights bodies and the international community. He urged them to “demand proof of life, enforce court-ordered access, end this inhumane isolation and call for the release of Pakistan’s most popular political leader, who is being held solely for political reasons.”
Pak officials deny rumours, says Imran Khan is under medical supervision
Government representatives have pushed back strongly against the claims. Rana Sanaullah, the adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, told the media that the speculation was unfounded. During an interview on ARY News, he said, “This is absolutely wrong. His health is fine and taken care of. There is a team of doctors that checks him on a weekly and daily basis [and looks after his] medicine, diet, facilities [and] exercises.” He also denied social media chatter about a possible transfer, saying Imran remained at Adiala Jail and that any move would require court information.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhary also addressed the speculation on Geo News, saying jail authorities had already given updates about Imran’s condition. “These reports are completely false, and they should not be trusted. These are deliberately spread… this is wrong; his health is completely fine, and he is well,” he said.
The absence of official, verifiable updates from authorities has allowed speculation to gain traction online, with “Where is Imran Khan?” trending widely on X. Reports that the 73-year-old could be moved to a high-security facility only further intensified the conversation.
Agencies