Imran Khan’s last message raises fresh questions amid his death rumours in Pakiatan jail

As uncertainty deepens over the condition and whereabouts of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, his final post on X—shared a few days ago—is drawing renewed attention from supporters, party leaders, and family members desperately seeking any sign of his wellbeing.

The post, published on November 5 on Khan’s behalf following a meeting with his sister at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, is being widely interpreted as a key indicator of what may be happening behind bars—and who Khan believes is responsible.

Khan’s message points to one man

In the lengthy statement, Imran Khan repeatedly blamed Army Chief General Asim Munir, mentioning him six times and referring to him as the singular force behind Pakistan’s current political climate.

Khan alleged that Pakistan is no longer governed by its Constitution or laws, but by what he called “Asim Law.”

He accused the army chief of exercising total control over state institutions and described him as “the most tyrannical dictator in history…capable of doing anything to satisfy his lust for power.”

The former prime minister said both he and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were being subjected to “every form of cruelty,” and vowed that he would “neither bow down nor submit.”

He added that “all power rests in the hands of one man,” and rejected any negotiations with what he described as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s “puppet government.”

Claims of systematic suppression

Khan further accused General Munir of orchestrating mass repression against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including violence, arrests, and intimidation. He claimed that PTI members—including women, children, and the elderly—were being targeted without mercy, and that legal proceedings were being deliberately obstructed to keep him jailed indefinitely.

Khan has been held in Adiala Jail since August 2023, following his fallout with the military establishment.

Power struggle years in the making

The longstanding rift between Khan and Munir has evolved into a wider struggle for power. The article notes that recent constitutional changes have further strengthened Munir’s authority, granting him extended control and increased immunity. Since then, even court-ordered weekly meetings with Khan have reportedly been blocked, adding to concerns.

Observers also point to Pakistan’s complex Pathan–Punjab power dynamics, suggesting that Munir views Khan—a popular Pathan leader—as a significant threat to his political and institutional dominance.

Growing alarm and official silence

Reports of Khan’s prolonged inaccessibility have heightened fears, with supporters questioning why no visitors have been allowed and why he has issued no messages for over three weeks.

Authorities have remained silent. Only jail officials have stated that Khan is “in good health,” a reassurance that has done little to calm speculation.

In this context, Khan’s November 5 message is seen as a critical document—one that outlines the power struggle, identifies the actors involved, and hints at the motivations behind the escalating secrecy surrounding his detention.