Speculation about the health and safety of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan continues to dominate political debate, but his former cabinet colleague Fawad Chaudhry says the rumours of Khan’s death are part of a broader misinformation battle between Afghanistan and Pakistan rather than a sign of something happening to Khan inside Adiala Jail. Speaking exclusively to India Today, Chaudhry — who served as Information Minister during Imran Khan’s tenure — said that Afghan social media accounts pushing claims that Khan had been murdered were responding to earlier Pakistani media reports alleging that Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Haibatullah had been assassinated. According to him, the rumours reflect a “tit-for-tat” information war driven by geopolitical tensions rather than actual developments inside the prison.
Multiple Afghan outlets and social media channels, including Afghan Times, had recently claimed that Khan was killed in custody and that Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir orchestrated the plot. The allegations surfaced during a period of worsening relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan after clashes along the border. Chaudhry noted that similar rumours about the Afghan Taliban leader have circulated repeatedly since 2021, although the Taliban has consistently rejected them. Against this backdrop, he said Afghan online accounts amplified sensational claims about Imran in retaliation for earlier Pakistani narratives about Haibatullah.
Despite the escalation of rumours, Imran Khan’s family has been unable to meet him for months. His sisters have been denied access to him for nearly three months despite court orders, triggering renewed protests outside the prison. Hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers have staged sit-ins outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail demanding a “proof of life” and unrestricted visitation rights. The lack of transparency, rather than calming speculation, has only intensified it.
Fawad Chaudhry insisted that Imran Khan remains “hale and hearty,” adding that prison authorities have also dismissed the death rumours and confirmed that he is eating normally and exercising regularly. He criticized the Shehbaz Sharif government for cutting off access to the PTI chairman, arguing that such secrecy fuels conspiracy theories and public unrest. He said the authorities’ refusal to release any recent photographs or audio of Imran stems from political insecurity, not health concerns.
According to Chaudhry, “Imran Khan is so big in Pakistan that even his voice, his picture is fearful for the present setup.” He argued that the government wants to prevent any public display of support for Khan ahead of elections because, if polls were held now, Khan would “secure more votes than he did in the last elections.”
While the debate over Imran Khan’s status continues, the information war between Afghan and Pakistani entities, the heightened distrust between Khan’s supporters and the government, and the increasing opacity around jail conditions have all contributed to the rumour cycle — even as PTI leaders insist the party chief remains safe, alive, and in good physical condition.
