Fact-check: What's behind rumours of Imran Khan's death in judicial custody?

As tensions between India and Pakistan grew, social media was filled with posts claiming that former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had either died in custody or been attacked at home.

A video showing injured Khan being carried away by security guards quickly spread across WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter).

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These claims led to confusion and worry among the public.

Making things worse, an unverified press release, said to be from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was widely shared online. It claimed that Imran Khan had died.

But what is the real story behind these claims? Here’s a fact-check to clear things up.

Fact-check: Did Imran Khan really die in judicial custody?

The answer is simple: No.

A fact-check by Boom Live confirmed that the viral document claiming Imran Khan died in jail is fake.

BOOM verified this with the media team of Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, who confirmed that the press release is not real. They also pointed out several flaws in the document that proved it was not official.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also responded on Saturday, calling the press release “fake” and asking people to “reject irresponsible behaviour.”

Notably, the video being shared online is not new. It is from May 2013, when Imran Khan was injured after falling from a forklift while being lifted onto a stage at an election rally in Lahore.

At the time, The Times of India reported that Khan had fallen from around 15 feet and suffered head injuries.

Although the video is more than ten years old, it resurfaced this week and spread widely on social media, making many believe the incident had just taken place.

Some users online even wrongly blamed General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Army Chief, for what they claimed was Khan’s death.

Others claimed Khan had run away from jail, adding to the confusion.

Right now, Imran Khan is in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. He was sent there after being found guilty in several cases, including corruption and an illegal marriage.

His time in jail remains a major issue in Pakistan’s ongoing political troubles. As tensions rose between India and Pakistan, more people were worried about his safety behind bars.

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What did the fake letter say?

The false statement, made to look like it came from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, claimed that Imran Khan had died while in judicial custody. It also said that an investigation was underway to find out what happened.

The letter went on to say that the government recognised how serious the situation was and promised full transparency to uncover the reasons behind his death and hold those responsible.

Calling for calm, the letter added, “Pakistan has always upheld the sanctity of life and the rule of law. The protection of human rights, especially in custodial settings, is a cornerstone of our democratic framework.”

It also said, “The Government is engaging with relevant UN human rights bodies and independent observers to ensure a credible and impartial inquiry.”

Where is Imran Khan?

Imran Khan is currently in Adiala Jail, serving a 14-year sentence in a corruption case.

According to close members of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Khan is being held in near-isolation. They claim he is not being given regular access to lawyers or medical care.

PTI leaders believe his life is at risk and say his imprisonment is driven by political reasons, especially as tensions between India and Pakistan have grown.

One of Khan’s close aides told CNN-News18 that he should be moved out of jail immediately, which is also what his family wants.

“This is no place for Imran Khan, who has been in jail for bogus charges, with not a single legitimate charge. We feel that he should be out on parole until things are safe," he said.

On Friday, PTI approached the Islamabad High Court seeking Khan’s release, citing threats to his life.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin said the party had raised concerns with all authorities, pointing to poor law and order across the country. He added that Khan had followed all jail rules since his arrest.

It is worth noting that India and Pakistan have agreed to halt all military action from 5 pm on Saturday as part of a ceasefire deal.

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India confirmed this agreement shortly after US President Donald Trump posted about it on Truth Social.

But just hours later, Pakistan broke the agreement. In Jammu and Kashmir, drones were seen and explosions reported.

In Srinagar, residents heard several blasts after dark. Air defence teams responded to a drone spotted flying over the Batwara area, near an Army base. Officials later said the drone had been shot down.

At a late-night press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri urged Pakistan to act responsibly and take steps to stop such incidents.

“This is a breach of the understanding arrived at earlier today. The armed forces are giving an adequate and appropriate response to these violations and we take very very serious note of these violations,” he said.