Imran Khan death rumours: Pakistan Army denies reports, calls them fake news

Army's rare denial

The Pakistan Army has issued an unusually direct statement confirming that former Prime Minister Imran Khan is alive, pushing back against what it called a 'fake news report' about his death. The clarification comes hours after a prominent Pakistani journalist claimed, citing three military sources, that the 71-year-old opposition leader was 'no longer with us'.

The army's statement did not elaborate on the origin of the rumour, but it marked a rare intervention by the military to address speculation about a political figure's fate. The denial has done little to calm a charged atmosphere, with Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), already warning of serious consequences.

The claim and the walk-back

The original claim surfaced on Wednesday, when the journalist — whose name has not been verified in the report — cited unnamed military sources to suggest Khan had died in custody. The report spread rapidly across social media, triggering panic among PTI supporters and calls for clarity from international observers.

However, the same journalist later appeared to walk back the statement, offering no further explanation. The Times of India noted the reversal, while India Today reported that PTI had responded by warning that '2 million men are ready' to mobilise if harm came to their leader. The army's confirmation has since undercut the rumour, but questions remain about who planted it and why.

PTI's warning and political tension

PTI's threat of mass mobilisation underscores the fragile state of Pakistan's political landscape. Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023, facing a slew of legal cases that his supporters call politically motivated. The party has repeatedly claimed that his life is in danger, and the latest rumour has only intensified those fears.

In a statement, PTI leaders urged calm but cautioned that any harm to Khan would trigger a nationwide response. The army's denial may temporarily ease tensions, but it has not addressed the underlying distrust between the military establishment and Khan's faction.

International pressure mounts

Meanwhile, the international community is paying close attention. A group of US lawmakers has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to press Pakistan on the jail conditions of Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. The lawmakers' appeal, reported by News18, cites concerns over due process and the treatment of political prisoners.

The US pressure adds a diplomatic dimension to an already volatile situation. Pakistan's government has dismissed foreign interference, but the repeated calls from Washington suggest that Khan's detention remains a sore point in bilateral relations.

What to watch

With the army's denial now on record, the immediate crisis may have passed, but the underlying instability persists. Watch for PTI's next move — whether it will accept the military's assurance or continue to press its narrative of a threatened leader. The coming weeks could see renewed protests or, if the government is wise, a de-escalation of rhetoric. For now, the only certainty is that rumours about Imran Khan's fate are unlikely to end here.