Daily News Analysis

Who benefits from rumours about Imran Khan’s death?

Crescent International

Jumada' al-Akhirah 06, 14472025-11-27

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Over the past 24 hours, rumours about Imran Khan’s death—or murder—in Adiala Jail have spread like wildfire.

For the record, we can confirm from our sources that Imran Khan is alive, even if not necessarily quite well.

Being locked up in a stinking jail cell reserved for convicted murderers is hardly conducive to one’s health.

His wife Bushra Bibi has also been imprisoned and scandalous allegations levelled against her.

Imran is kept in solitary confinement since August 5, 2023 at the express orders of the army chief, Asim Munir, the real ruler of Pakistan.

Rumours about his death were reinforced by the refusal of the jail authorities to allow Khan’s sisters to meet him despite a court order.

It has been nearly four weeks since his sisters, his lawyers or party leaders have been allowed to meet him.

Khan’s three sisters and party supporters are camped outside Adiala Jail since November 25, the day they were supposed to have met him, to protest the violation of their right.

It is not difficult to surmise who benefits from such rumours and why at this time?

November 26 marked the first anniversary of the army’s killing of hundreds of Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI) supporters in Islamabad.

They were murdered on the express orders of Munir, who many believe is illegally occupying the top army post.

He has now elevated himself to an even higher position, that of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

This is a permanent position and provides Munir life-long immunity from prosecution.

This is an extremely worrying development as we shall see shortly.

First, what possible reasons could the thuggish generals have for starting such a rumour?

To mark the first anniversary, the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa organized a huge rally in Peshawar.

It garnered much support.

Obviously, the generals were not amused.

They wanted to divert attention from the rally’s success, hence the rumour about Imran Khan’s death.

Even more critical, today (November 27), Munir became Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

This new post was created through what is referred to as the 27^th amendment to the constitution.

The amendment was passed hurriedly by the army-installed parliament.

Munir wants to secure his position for life, hence his desperate attempt to keep people’s attention focused on other issues.

No doubt, the rumour of Imran Khan’s death spread like wildfire.

Not only Pakistani vloggers but also Indian vloggers got in on the act.

Everyone added their own interpretation, and spice in the case of the Indians (see here, here and here).

Pakistan’s largest circulation English daily, Dawn, also could not resist talking about it.

It denied rumours about Khan’s death and said he was still in Adiala Jail outside Rawalpindi.

Almost every Pakistani vlogger—in Pakistan and those forced to go into exile because of army threats to their life—commented on the rumour.

They all gave their own interpretations but their conclusion was the same: Imran Khan is alive, alhamdulillah.

(Those interested in viewing the Pakistani vloggers’ comments can check here, here, here, here and here).

Now to the question of why the generals, or more specifically Munir, would want to spread such a rumour?

If the generals could get away with it, they will kill Imran Khan.

The rumour was meant to test public reaction.

It is also meant to desensitize people.

By spreading such a rumour periodically, the generals hope people would stop believing it.

That would pave the way for them to actually carry out the dastardly act, God forbid.

Munir’s elevated status as CDF and life-long immunity from prosecution would enable him to order the murder of Imran Khan.

He would face no legal consequences under the present set-up.

Only the people’svigilance can prevent such a dastardly crime from being carried out which would certainly doom Pakistan.

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