(Image source from: Arabnews.com)
On Wednesday, the administration of Adiala Jail dismissed rumors regarding the health of Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan who is currently in prison. They stated that he has been relocated from the jail but confirmed that he is in good health and that rumors about his death are unfounded. According to officials from the Rawalpindi prison, there is no truth to reports claiming he was moved from Adiala jail. The officials assured that he is in good health and receiving full medical care. Khan's political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, also requested an official statement from the government amid concerns about his health, asking the authorities to arrange a meeting between him and his family without delay, as reported by Dawn.
There has been a surge of wild rumors regarding Imran Khan's health since his sisters called for an unbiased inquiry into the “violent” police attack on them and their brother's supporters outside Adiala Jail last week. Some social media accounts shared unverified claims that alleged Imran Khan “has been killed” in Adiala Jail. The speculation intensified when a social media account named ‘Afghanistan Times’ reported, citing reliable sources, that the former PM of Pakistan had been "murdered" in Adiala Jail. They further claimed that Imran Khan's body had been removed from the prison.
No trustworthy agency or official has confirmed these claims. Imran Khan, who leads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been incarcerated since August 2023 facing multiple charges, and the government has effectively prohibited any meetings with him for over a month. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Sohail Afridi attempted seven times to visit him in jail but was unsuccessful. In a letter to the head of Punjab police, Usman Anwar, Imran Khan's sisters reported that they experienced what they called “violent and planned” aggression by police, which occurred while they were “peacefully protesting” outside Adiala Jail last week. His sisters, Noreen Niazi, Aleema Khan, and Dr. Uzma Khan, had gathered outside the jail with other PTI members after being denied a visit with him for a month.
"We held a peaceful protest out of concern for his well-being. We did not block roads, stop public movement, or engage in any illegal activity. However, without any warning, the streetlights were turned off suddenly, plunging the area into darkness. This was followed by a brutal, coordinated attack by Punjab police,” PTI news agency quoted Noreen Niazi as saying. “At 71 years of age, I was grabbed by my hair, violently pushed to the ground, and dragged along the road, resulting in visible injuries,” she claimed, also mentioning that other women present were slapped and dragged. Officials from Adiala Jail have maintained that the speculation regarding Imran Khan's health is "unfounded," assuring that the well-being of the PTI founder is being prioritized, according to Geo News.
