Key Highlights
- Imran Khan’s three sisters allege brutal assault by police outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail after being denied meeting access for over three weeks
- Unverified death rumors circulated on social media after Afghan media report claimed Khan died in custody, later dismissed by Pakistani jail authorities
- United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared Khan’s detention arbitrary and in violation of international law in March 2024 opinion
Opening Overview
Speculation surrounding jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan intensified dramatically after his three sisters claimed they were brutally assaulted outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail by state machinery while seeking a meeting with their brother. The 72-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman has been imprisoned since August 2023, facing multiple corruption and terrorism charges following his removal from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Imran Khan’s sisters, Noreen Niazi, Aleema Khan, and Dr. Uzma Khan, have not been allowed to meet the former Prime Minister for over one month, prompting them to stage protests outside the detention facility. The situation escalated when unverified social media claims about Imran Khan’s death began circulating, forcing Pakistani authorities to issue clarifications about his health and whereabouts.
Reports are now surfacing from inside the prisons of PUnjabi Pakistan that Imran Khan, who was being held in custody, has been killed by Asim Munir and his ISI administration according to several news outlets. If this information is confirmed to be true, it marks the absolute end… pic.twitter.com/SbbVB5uJll
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs Baluchistan (@BaluchistanMFA) November 26, 2025
Assault Allegations and Family Access Denial
Key Points:
- Sisters submitted formal complaint to Punjab Inspector General of Police Usman Anwar
- Over 10,000 PTI supporters joined protests outside Adiala Jail
- Police negotiations resulted in guaranteed meeting access arrangements
Imran Khan’s sisters formally complained to Punjab police authorities about what they described as brutal and orchestrated violence carried out by policemen without provocation during their peaceful protest outside Adiala Jail. The three women, along with thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters, had camped outside the Rawalpindi facility demanding authorities allow them to meet Imran Khan after being denied access for approximately one month. According to PTI statements, police personnel pounced on Imran Khan’s sisters and supporters, physically assaulting them for what the party termed their crime of seeking a meeting with the imprisoned leader. The assault on Imran Khan’s family members sparked widespread condemnation and calls for an impartial investigation into the incident.
Following negotiations with police, Imran Khan’s sisters and PTI supporters ended their sit-in at the Gorakhpur checkpoint near Adiala Jail after authorities assured them that meetings with the former Prime Minister would be arranged. The family was guaranteed access to Imran Khan on subsequent dates, prompting over 10,000 protesters to disperse peacefully. Even Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was reportedly denied access to Imran Khan despite making seven consecutive attempts to visit him in jail, with Khan claiming the jail authorities were controlled by an army officer.
Unverified Death Rumors and Official Response
Key Points:
- Afghanistan Times report claimed Khan died from alleged mistreatment in custody
- Adiala Jail authorities dismissed rumors, confirming Khan is fully healthy
- Self-styled Balochistan Ministry claimed ISI and Army Chief conspired to kill Khan
Imran Khan became a trending topic on social media for two consecutive days following unverified claims of his death after a source-based Afghan media report alleged he was killed inside Adiala Jail. The Afghanistan Times report claimed the 72-year-old leader succumbed to alleged mistreatment in custody, with his body purportedly moved out of the prison facility. Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the self-styled Balochistan government also claimed that Imran Khan had been assassinated in Adiala Jail, alleging that Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI and Army Chief General Asim Munir hatched a conspiracy to kill the PTI chairman.
Adiala Jail authorities moved quickly to dismiss the death rumors surrounding Imran Khan, issuing an official statement confirming there was no truth to reports about his transfer from the facility. Prison officials stated that Imran Khan is fully healthy and receiving complete medical attention, maintaining that his health remained stable and he continued routine medical care. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claimed Imran Khan was receiving premium facilities in custody, including food comparable to five-star hotels, access to television, exercise equipment, a double bed, and velvet bedding. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf sought an official government response amid growing rumors about Imran Khan’s health, urging authorities to immediately facilitate a meeting between him and his family.
Detention Conditions and International Legal Assessment
Key Points:
- UN Working Group declared Khan’s detention arbitrary and politically motivated
- Khan faces total of 34 years in prison sentences across multiple cases
- Over 180 jail trial hearings conducted during first year of imprisonment
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a comprehensive opinion in March 2024 declaring that Imran Khan’s detention is arbitrary and in violation of international law, calling for his immediate release. The UN body concluded that Imran Khan’s detention had no legal basis and appeared to have been intended to disqualify him from running for political office, stating the prosecution was not grounded in law and was instrumentalized for political purposes. The Working Group noted that Imran Khan’s legal troubles are part of a much broader campaign of repression targeting him and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, with members facing arrests, torture, and disrupted political gatherings.
Imran Khan’s son told The Independent that his father is kept in extremely harsh conditions, effectively confined to a death cell with poor hygiene and no proper facilities. Aleema Khan alleged the former Prime Minister was being held in a death cell usually reserved for terrorists, with access to books, essential items, and even lawyers being blocked. According to jail statistics, Imran Khan attended more than 180 jail trial hearings during his first year in Adiala Jail, spending approximately 1,000 hours in court proceedings. The former Prime Minister endured 90 days in solitary confinement and was not allowed a single private meeting with his wife, Bushra Bibi, during 365 days of imprisonment.
| Imran Khan Detention Statistics | Data |
|---|---|
| Total Prison Sentences | 34 years across multiple cases |
| Jail Trial Hearings (First Year) | Over 180 hearings |
| Court Hours Attended | Approximately 1,000 hours |
| Solitary Confinement Duration | 90 days |
| Cases Convicted In (First Year) | 3 cases |
| Private Meetings With Wife | 0 meetings in 365 days |
Source: Express News jail statistics compilation
Political Context and Electoral Implications
Key Points:
- Khan sentenced to additional 31 years during week before parliamentary election
- PTI barred from using traditional election symbol
- Media outlets asked to impose near-blanket coverage ban on Khan’s party
Between January 30 and February 3, 2024, during the week prior to Pakistan’s national parliamentary election, Imran Khan was convicted and sentenced to an additional 31 years in prison across three separate cases. The cipher case resulted in a 10-year sentence, a new Toshakhana case brought 14 years plus a $2.8 million fine and 10-year electoral disqualification, and the marriage case under section 496 of the Penal Code added seven years. The UN Working Group noted the reportedly novel conviction under section 496, leading to an outcome tantamount to a life sentence for Imran Khan, who at age 71 faces imprisonment potentially spanning 34 years.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court barred Imran Khan’s party from using its traditional symbol, which serves as an important identification tool for voters with low literacy levels. Multiple media outlets were reportedly asked to impose a near-blanket ban on coverage relating to Imran Khan’s political party in the run-up to the election. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority banned broadcasts of Imran Khan’s speeches and press conferences, issuing directives urging media outlets not to give airtime to those promoting hate speech, with authorities allegedly pressuring outlets not to mention Khan’s name. The convergence of these factors appears aimed at removing Imran Khan from contesting elections and restricting his party’s fair participation in the electoral process.
Final Perspective
The intensifying situation surrounding Imran Khan at Adiala Jail reflects deepening tensions between Pakistan’s political establishment and the imprisoned former Prime Minister who once commanded significant popular support. While Pakistani authorities have dismissed death rumors about Imran Khan and assured the public of his wellbeing, the denial of family access for extended periods and allegations of harsh detention conditions continue fueling speculation and concern among his supporters.
The United Nations’ assessment that Imran Khan’s detention violates international law and appears politically motivated adds international dimension to what PTI characterizes as systematic persecution aimed at silencing political opposition. As Imran Khan faces potentially decades in prison across multiple convictions that coincided with electoral cycles, questions persist about whether Pakistan’s legal proceedings against the former cricket star turned politician serve justice or political objectives.
