Imran Khan not dead; clarifies the Government of Pakistan
According to an unconfirmed statement, Khan died while in court custody, and the cause of his death is being looked into.
New Delhi (India) May 11: The death of Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), inside Adiala Jail on Saturday has caused confusion on social media. The Pakistani media, however, has said that the murder of Imran Khan is a fake and has also accused Indian trolls of spreading false information on social media. According to the Pakistani media, Imran Khan is "safe and sound" within the prison.
A press statement announcing the death of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan was classified as "fake" by Pakistan's ministry of communications and broadcasting on Saturday, and the public was asked to "reject irresponsible behaviour.”
A fake press release is also being spread on social media which seems to be published by the Government of Pakistan. The press release says, "It is with deep regret and solemnity that we confirm the passing of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in judicial custody. The incident occurred under circumstances that are currently under thorough investigation.”
“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. The Government is engaging with relevant UN human rights bodies and independent observers to ensure a credible and impartial inquiry.”
Also, it said that the government understands the seriousness of the situation and committed to ensuring full transparency in order to identify the reasons and hold those responsible for the incident.
Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting denied the rumours on its official X account.
“Disseminating fake news is not only unethical and illegal but also a disservice to the nation. It is the responsibility of everyone to reject irresponsible behavior,” the ministry stated in a post on X.
Posts saying that former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had been shot dead or beaten in his house went viral on social media this week. Videos of Khan being injured and being dragged away by security went viral on X and WhatsApp. These claims are all false.
The shared video is not current. It happened in 2013 when Khan, who was the president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf at the time, was carried at an electoral rally.
Concern over his health and safety has grown, according to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who claim he is being held in close isolation with little access to legal representation or medical care.
Aadrika Tayal
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