A day after rumours broke out about Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s death, the Pakistani leadership is rushing to clarify speculations, insisting that Khan is indeed healthy and receiving full medical care.
Reports quoting Adiala Jail administration said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan is completely healthy and is in jail. “Khan is being provided with full medical facilities, and there is no plan of transfer anywhere,” the report said. Officials clarified that speculation about Khan's health is baseless and that his health is being monitored closely.
Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif too rushed to clarify that Khan was receiving facilities in prison that he did not receive while in custody. “Go and check the food menu that is served to him. This is not available even in five-star hotels," Asif said, adding that Khan has been provided with a television on which he can watch any channel.
He said that exercise machines have also been provided for Khan. "We slept on the cold floor, ate prison food, and in January were given only two blankets and went without water," Asif said.
Khawaja Asif claimed that the then Superintendent of Jail, Asad Warraich, had personally come and removed their geyser, while today some people have access to double beds and even velvet bedding in the prison.
Khan has been in jail since August 2023. He faces numerous charges, including corruption charges. He was ousted from power in April 2022 through a no-confidence motion.
After news broke that Khan died in prison, PTI had raised concerns that he could have been transferred elsewhere. "A transparent and official statement should be issued at the official level regarding the health, safety and current status of Chairman Imran Khan and the motives behind the spread of such dangerous and sensitive rumours should be investigated, and the facts should be presented before the nation,” the PTI said in a statement, which was denied by the jail administration strongly denied this.
Imran Khan's sisters and children have consistently claimed that he is being kept in solitary confinement and that visitation is limited, even though the Islamabad High Court has allowed the family to meet twice a week.
On Wednesday, there was a huge commotion during a sit-in by PTI workers and Imran Khan's sisters near the prison check post, after which the authorities assured Aleema Khan that a meeting would be arranged. The protest was later called off.