Rumours claiming that former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has died in custody are spreading rapidly across social media. This fact-check examines what has actually been confirmed so far.
Social Media Posts :
Posts circulated on social media claiming that “Imran Khan has been secretly murdered inside a prison in Pakistan.”
Explainer :
Social media posts claimed that former Pakistan cricket captain and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Imran Khan, died while in custody at Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
This rumour began after a media outlet called Afghan Times claimed it had received information from a “credible source” inside the prison.
Some posts even claimed that his body had been moved, however, no reputable news organisation, prison authority, or official government source confirmed such a death.
Old Photos Used (2013/2022)
Two old photos from 2013 and 2022 were used to support the rumour.
One image was from 2013, taken when Imran Khan fell from a forklift stage during an election rally.
The other image was from November 4, 2022, when he was injured in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad.
Pakistani Government Response
A prison official told Reuters that the former Prime Minister was in good health and that he was not aware of any plan to move him to another location.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an official fact-check dismissing these social media claims, stating that the rumours were entirely false and part of a coordinated misinformation campaign originating from Afghan and Indian networks.
According to the Ministry, the false claims began when anonymous Afghan accounts posted an unverified rumour that Imran Khan had been killed in custody and that his body had been taken away.
A prison official told Reuters that the former prime minister is in good health and that there are no plans to move him to another location.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an official fact-check, firmly rejecting the social media claims. The ministry stated that the rumours about Imran Khan are entirely false and part of a coordinated disinformation campaign linked to Afghan and Indian networks.
According to the ministry, the false reports originated from anonymous Afghan accounts that began circulating an unverified claim alleging that Imran Khan had been killed in custody and that his body had been removed.
‘Where is Imran Khan?’
In recent days, Imran Khan’s family members and party officials protested outside Adiala Prison requesting permission to meet him.
Although prison rules allow at least one meeting per week, authorities had reportedly suspended all such access at this time.
PTI spokesperson Zulfi Bukhari told Reuters that no one had seen Imran Khan since November 4. He also claimed that despite his status as a former Prime Minister, authorities were denying him essential medical care and visitation rights.
The hashtag #WHEREISIMRANKHAN began trending on X (Twitter) on the 27th as concerns about his condition grew.
Previously, an X post falsely claimed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued a statement announcing Imran Khan’s death during judicial custody. However, the Ministry did not issue such a statement, and the claim was confirmed to be misinformation.
Imran Khan’s Arrest History
Imran Khan, a former cricketer and politician, became Pakistan’s 22nd Prime Minister after winning the 2018 general election.
He was removed from office in 2022 after losing a parliamentary no-confidence vote.
In August 2023, he was arrested at his Lahore residence after receiving a three-year prison sentence in a corruption case related to the illegal sale of state gifts. This conviction also temporarily disqualified him from holding public office for five years.
Earlier, in May 2023, he had been arrested in another corruption case, which he denied, claiming that the gifts were obtained legally.
After his removal from office in 2022, more than 150 legal cases were filed against him, mostly related to corruption and incitement to violence.
In January 2024, he was sentenced to 10 years under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly leaking classified documents.
A year later, in January 2025, he received his longest sentence, 14 years in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. His wife Bushra Bibi also received a seven-year sentence and a fine. Click here to read more
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Conclusion :
There is currently no credible evidence to support claims that Imran Khan has died. The rumour has been officially denied by both the prison authorities and the Pakistani government.
Until verified by trustworthy official sources, claims about his death cannot be considered true.
Title:No Evidence So Far to Confirm Claims That Imran Khan Has Died
Fact Check By: Pavithra SandamaliResult: Insight
