Social media platforms erupted with unverified death rumours about Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan on November 26, 2025, after claims circulated that the imprisoned leader had been “mysteriously killed” in custody. The speculation triggered widespread panic among his supporters and reignited concerns about his prolonged detention and isolation from family members at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
Unverified Claims Spark Panic
The rumours originated from an X (formerly Twitter) account called “Afghanistan Times,” which claimed that Khan had been “mysteriously killed” and his “body had been moved out of the prison”. The unsubstantiated post cited an unnamed “credible source from Pakistan” but provided no evidence to support the alarming allegation. Within hours, the hashtag #ImranKhan began trending across social media platforms as users shared doctored videos and speculated about the 72-year-old politician’s fate. Some accounts even circulated a fake press release styled as an official note from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs falsely announcing Khan’s death.
Family Denied Access for Weeks
The death rumours gained traction amid genuine concerns about Khan’s welfare after his three sisters—Aleema, Noreen, and Dr. Uzma Khan—alleged they were “brutally assaulted” by police outside Adiala Jail while attempting to meet their brother. The sisters claimed they have been denied access to Khan for more than three weeks, despite making multiple attempts to visit him. Seventy-one-year-old Noreen Niazi was reportedly injured during the late-night confrontation, which occurred after police allegedly switched off streetlights before launching the assault. The family’s demands for a meeting sparked a midnight protest outside the prison facility on November 25, with PTI supporters gathering to express their anger against the meeting ban.
Prison Administration Issues Clarification
Responding to the viral speculation, Adiala Jail authorities issued an official statement on November 27 dismissing the rumours as “baseless” and confirming that Khan remains inside the facility in good health. “There is no truth to reports about his transfer from Adiala Jail,” prison officials stated, adding that “He is fully healthy and under constant medical supervision“. The clarification came as Defence Minister Khawaja Asif publicly described Khan’s prison conditions, claiming the PTI founder enjoys “five-star” treatment including a double bed with velvet mattress, television access, exercise machines, and gourmet meals. Asif contrasted these conditions with his own past imprisonment, saying he slept on cold floors with minimal facilities.
Khan’s Prolonged Detention
Khan has been incarcerated at Adiala Jail since August 2023, facing multiple legal cases ranging from corruption to terrorism charges following his removal from office through a no-confidence motion in April 2022. The cricketer-turned-politician, who leads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been kept in what his party describes as “solitary confinement” with his cell door remaining shut at all times. The Pakistani government has imposed an undeclared ban on meetings for over a month, preventing friends, family members, and even Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi from visiting Khan—Afridi has been denied access seven times despite repeated attempts.
Not the First Time
This is not the first occasion death rumours about Khan have circulated online. In May 2025, similar hoaxes claimed he had been shot dead or assaulted at his residence, creating brief panic before being debunked. The recurring pattern of unverified claims reflects the high tensions surrounding Khan’s detention and the limited information available about his condition due to the extended communication blackout imposed by authorities.
