ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday demanded that the government issue an immediate and transparent clarification regarding what it called alarming “rumours” surrounding the health and safety of imprisoned party founder Imran Khan. The party also urged authorities to allow an urgent meeting between the former prime minister and his family, particularly his sisters, who say they have been barred from seeing him for weeks.
The demand comes amid a wave of unverified claims circulating on social media platforms, including X, where some accounts—primarily from India and Afghanistan, according to PTI—have shared false reports regarding Imran’s wellbeing. These rumours, echoed by sections of Indian media, prompted the hashtag #WhereIsImranKhan to trend on Thursday morning. PTI leaders say the situation has generated anxiety among supporters and raised questions about the state’s transparency.
In a statement posted on X, PTI described the claims as “despicable” and insisted the government and interior ministry “immediately and clearly dismiss” the rumours. The party further called for the issuance of a formal statement detailing Imran’s “health, security and current status,” arguing that the public has a right to verified information. It also urged the government to identify and investigate those responsible for spreading what it termed “sensitive and destabilising disinformation.”
PTI warned that the nation would “not tolerate any uncertainty regarding the status of its leader,” adding that the state bears full responsibility for ensuring Imran’s safety and constitutional rights. The party vowed to pursue all legal and political avenues to counter “false narratives.”
Separately, PTI leader Meher Bano Qureshi said the circulating rumours were deeply concerning. She emphasised that the “most credible” way to dispel misinformation would be to permit Imran’s sisters, lawyers and senior party members to meet him directly.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif rejected PTI’s concerns on Wednesday, asserting that Imran was being provided extensive facilities in Adiala jail. He claimed the former premier had access to a television, exercise equipment and food delivered from outside—amenities Asif contrasted with the harsher conditions he said he faced during his own imprisonment.
Imran Khan, jailed since August 2023, is serving a sentence in the £190 million corruption case and faces additional charges linked to the May 9, 2023 unrest.
