Imran Khan’s sister, Dr. Uzma Khanum, has said the former Pakistan Prime Minister is alive but suffering from severe psychological pressure in prison. Her comments came after a rare 20-minute meeting on Tuesday evening, ending weeks of speculation about his wellbeing.

After the visit, Dr. Khanum told reporters that her brother appeared physically stable but deeply distressed. “Alhamdulillah, he is fine… but mentally he is being pushed to the edge,” she said. According to her, Khan spends nearly the entire day confined to his cell, with only limited time outside and no access to communication. She also reiterated his long-standing accusation that Army Chief General Asim Munir is responsible for his continued imprisonment.

Weeks of Silence Fuelled Rumours

The meeting broke a prolonged period during which Khan’s family was repeatedly denied access. Their inability to see him sparked intense speculation, accompanied by protests in Islamabad and Rawalpindi that forced authorities to impose restrictions on public gatherings. Despite these curbs, supporters still gathered outside the Islamabad High Court demanding clarity about Khan’s health.

Concerns escalated last month when Khan’s sisters – Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi – alleged they were manhandled while trying to visit him. His sons added to the alarm, claiming jail officials were hiding “something irreversible” about their father. Kasim Khan told Reuters that the family had not had direct contact even though a court had approved weekly meetings. Khan’s personal physician has also reportedly been denied entry.

Before Tuesday, no family member or senior figure from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had seen him for more than 25 days, creating a fertile ground for rumours that he may have died in custody and that the government feared public unrest if the truth came out.

PTI Leaders Accuse Government of Isolation Tactics

Pressure on the Shehbaz Sharif administration increased after PTI Senator Khurram Zeeshan claimed Khan was being kept in isolation to force him into leaving the country. Speaking to ANI, he alleged that the government’s refusal to release recent photographs or videos showed they were “deeply threatened” by Khan’s popularity.

Imran Khan, now 72, has been incarcerated since August 2023. The first whispers of his alleged death began trending on social media accounts traced to Afghanistan. The rumours also emerged as Pakistan and Afghanistan remain locked in heightened tensions over border clashes.