How The Rumours Met A Wall Of Silence
When an Afghan‑linked account on X claimed Imran Khan had been “killed” in Adiala Jail, his sisters and son immediately asked for a meeting and public proof that he was alive. Instead of swiftly producing a video or arranging visits, authorities initially stayed silent, even as supporters gathered outside Adiala Jail chanting “Where is Imran Khan?” and demanding answers.
Only after the rumours trended globally did officials and some PTI‑aligned figures publicly say Khan was “fit and healthy” and still inside Adiala Jail, but they still did not grant the routine court‑ordered family visits that would have settled the matter. That mismatch between statements and actions is what fuels suspicion that the state – and by extension the army that dominates it – is hiding key facts about his condition and treatment.
Why The Army Is At The Centre Of The Story
Imran Khan has openly accused Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir of running Pakistan as a “tyrannical dictator” and warned in an earlier op‑ed that Munir would be responsible if anything happened to him in custody. Analysts note that Khan’s ouster from power, his prosecution on multiple cases, and the crackdown on PTI supporters all coincided with Munir’s rise as Pakistan’s dominant power broker, eclipsing civilian institutions.
New legal amendments reportedly grant Munir lifetime rank and immunity, deepening fears that the military is entrenching one‑man rule behind a civilian façade. In this environment, many Pakistanis interpret the secrecy around Khan’s health and isolation as part of a broader project to permanently neutralise the country’s most popular opposition leader.
Blocking Proof Of Life: Security Or Cover‑Up?
Khan’s son Kasim says his father has spent around six weeks in a “death cell” in total isolation, with no phone calls and no family visits, despite clear court orders allowing weekly meetings. His sisters describe being turned away or even assaulted outside Adiala Jail, claiming the authorities are deliberately defying judges to keep Khan out of sight and out of contact.
PTI has formally demanded that the government and interior ministry issue a transparent medical update, allow immediate access for family and lawyers, and release credible proof of life – steps that could be completed in hours if there was political will. Instead, officials simply repeat that “nothing is wrong with him” while maintaining the blackout, a pattern more consistent with information control than with genuine concern for prison security.
Is He Really Alive – Or Is There “Something Bigger”?
On record, both the Pakistan government and jail administration insist Imran Khan is alive, under medical supervision and receiving due facilities in Adiala Jail. There is no verified public evidence confirming his death, and major outlets still treat him as imprisoned rather than deceased, which is why responsible reporting must state that he is officially alive.
However, the army’s history of opaque interventions, the unprecedented isolation of a former prime minister, and the refusal to provide fresh, independently verifiable proof of life suggest a larger struggle over power and narrative control. Whether Khan is being kept alive but politically erased, or his actual health is worse than officials admit, the pattern points to a military establishment more focused on protecting its own dominance than on honestly informing its citizens about the fate of their most popular leader.
