Responding to rumours of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan having died in custody that had taken the internet by storm yesterday, Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail authorities issued a statement on Thursday confirming that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder has not been shifted to a different jail and that he remains in good health.
As per a report by IANS, the officials called the rumours about his health “baseless” and insisted that Imran Khan’s well-being was being ensured. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan has been incarcerated in Rawalpindi for more than two years in connection with a corruption case.
What else did the jail authorities say?
In a statement, officials from the Rawalpindi prison said, “There is no truth to reports about his transfer from Adiala jail. He is fully healthy and receiving complete medical attention, local media’ reported. Assuring agitated party members of his status, the jail authorities added that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder has not been shifted from prison and remains “in good health”
Khan, who has remained in prison since August 2023, faces multiple cases, including corruption and terrorism, since his ouster from power through no-trust motion in 2022.
What prompted the jail authorities to issue such a statement?
Adiala jail authorities statement comes as the PTI has demanded clarification from the government about rumours regarding Imran Khan, urging authorities to arrange a meeting between the PTI founder and his family.
Following rumors and unverified reports about Imran Khan’s death, thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters had gathered outside Adiala Jail on Wednesday (yesterday).
Mobilisation of crowds over unverified reports of the PTI founder’s death had culminated into a furious outcry with PTI members reportedly attempting to storm the jail yesterday. His sisters had also gotten involved in the process and launched a protest, calling for investigation.
The protests launched by the PTI had gained much momentum yesterday after Khan’s sister revealed that they were ‘brutally assaulted by the police’ while trying to visit him last week.