Imran Khan is not dead, and neither is Pakistan’s ‘House of Cards’ politics

Imran Khan’s weeks-long silence and isolation inside Adiala Jail have intensified Pakistan’s deepening political crisis, exposing a system that operates through opacity, coercion, and deliberate erasure. Although his sister’s brief, supervised meeting dispelled rumours of his death, it confirmed his solitary confinement and lack of legal or medical access. This controlled visibility reflects a broader strategy under Field Marshal Asim Munir to neutralise Khan politically while asserting military authority over civilian institutions. The resulting uncertainty has weakened judicial credibility, destabilised the Sharif government, fuelled public anger, and pushed Pakistan toward a dangerous “House of Cards” reality where power thrives in darkness.