PTI urges govt to clarify rumours about Imran Khan’s well-being

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday expressed concern over what it called “malicious rumours” circulating regarding the well-being of former prime minister Imran Khan, urging the government to issue an immediate clarification.

In a statement issued by the PTI’s Central Media Department, the party said that unverified claims about Imran were being spread through “non-official Afghan and Indian media outlets and foreign social media accounts,” creating unnecessary alarm.

PTI called on the federal government and the Ministry of Interior to “promptly and unequivocally” rebut the rumours and arrange an urgent meeting between Imran and his family. It also demanded a transparent and official statement detailing Imran’s health, safety and current status.

The party said those responsible for spreading “such dangerous and sensitive rumours” must be identified through an inquiry and the facts presented before the nation.

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“The nation will not tolerate any uncertainty or ambiguity regarding its leader,” the statement read, adding that Imran’s security, fundamental rights and constitutional protections were the government’s direct responsibility.

PTI assured supporters that it would take “every legal and political step” necessary to counter the rumours and ensure the truth is made public.

PTI leader Meher Bano Qureshi also raised concerns on rumours about wellbeing and safety of her party’s founding chairman. “The government is responsible for Khan sb’s safety and is duty bound to issue a statement updating the nation,” she wrote in a post on her X account.

As far as putting an end these rumours goes, Meher suggested, the best and most credible way possible is to allow Imran’s sisters, lawyers and party members to meet with him.

MoIB debunks unverified rumour

On the other hand, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB)’s fact checker desk has debunked the claims being spread on Afghan and Indian social media, alleging that Imran has been “killed in jail by ISI”.

The ministry said anonymous Afghan accounts circulated an unverified rumour that Imran was killed in custody and his body was moved. Indian outlets repeated the rumour using two old photos from 2013 and 2022 as “fresh evidence,” it said.

Countering the claims, it apprised that the disinformation originated from two Afghan propaganda handles known for fabrications.

“Their posts appeared only 46 minutes apart, a clear indication of a coordinated attempt rather than independent reporting.

“Both accounts falsely claimed a “Pakistani source” confirmed the death but provided no documentation, proof, or institutional verification,” it said.

The information ministry clarified that the first image used to support the rumour is actually from 2013, when Imran fell from a forklift stage during an election rally.

Afghan and Indian networks repurposed this 12-year-old image to imply a recent incident inside jail.

“At 12:06 PM PST, Republic TV aired a false claim of “PTI supporters storming Adiala Jail.” Within hours, the channel began running the Afghan-origin death rumour without verification.

“Indian outlets started posting about the claim after 3 PM PST, all relying only on the same two Afghan accounts,” the ministry said.

The second image, the MoIB said, is from November 4, 2022, the assassination attempt in Wazirabad that caused leg injuries.

“This photo predates Imran’s imprisonment and has zero connection to jail or custody. Indian media amplified an unverified rumour,” it said.

The information ministry’s fact-checking body said despite PTI representatives telling Indian channels that no such information existed, the rumour was aired repeatedly.

No journalist, official, hospital, or government agency confirmed any abnormal development.

The ministry said some Indian channels openly acknowledged that the rumour began on Afghan accounts, yet still treated it as a “possible developing story,” which added unnecessary confusion.

It termed the spreading of unfounded claim a deliberate attempt to create unrest within Pakistan.

The rumour was designed to provoke agitation, fuel anti-state narratives, and manufacture a false sense of instability, it maintained.

Hence, the ministry said, the rumour about Imran being killed in custody is completely false, both circulated photos are old and irrelevant and the false narrative originated from Afghan propaganda accounts and was spread by Indian media without verification.

It said no credible authority has reported any such incident.

A day ago, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif retweeted a video of Imran making fun of some opposition leader demanding facilities in jail.

In his social media, the minister dismissed the allegations that the government was mistreating the incarcerated PTI leader.

Asif said, the PTI supremo’s food comes from outside and his menu included meals that even a five-star hotel would not offer. “He also has a TV and watches whatever channels he wants. Exercise machines are available for him too,” he maintained.

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On the other hand, he said when they were in prison they used to sleep on cold floors. The food served to them was that available in jail, he said, adding that they had only two prison blankets.

“It was the month of January and there was no hot water. The superintendent of the jail, Asad Waraich, personally came in the morning and had the geyser removed,” he said.

The minister claimed that Imran had a double bed and velvet bedding. “He should be made to listen to this speech over the jail loudspeaker. One should fear God — no one owns time,” he said.

Scores of leaders of the embattled PTI have been facing multiple cases for their alleged involvement in the violent protests that erupted countrywide on May 9, 2023 following arrest of PTI founding chairman Imran in a corruption case.

Imran, who has been in prison since 2023 facing charges of corruption, land fraud and disclosure of official secrets, is also being tried separately on similar charges related to the riots.

The government accused him and other PTI leaders of inciting the May 9, 2023, protests, during which demonstrators attacked military and government buildings, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and Jinnah House Lahore.

The former prime minister denies wrongdoing and says all the cases are politically motivated to dismantle his party.