'Can’t put someone in jail and …': Shashi Tharoor on Imran Khan’s health rumours

Tharoor said while India should not comment on the internal affairs of another country, the lack of official communication from Pakistan was troubling.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, on Saturday, expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the health of former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, urging Pakistani authorities to provide clarity.

Imran Khan has been in Adiala Jail since August 2023, serving a 14-year sentence in a corruption case. In recent days, rumours have circulated claiming that his condition had worsened or that he had been “killed” in custody, prompting his family and PTI leaders to demand proof of life.

Speaking to ANI, Tharoor said while India should not comment on the internal affairs of another country, the lack of official communication from Pakistan was troubling.

“It is certainly a matter of some concern that there is so much silence on this matter,” he said. He added that unverified claims were circulating widely, noting, “There are various people claiming that the worst has happened. But the Government of Pakistan and the authorities have not said anything. That silence is bad.”

Referring to a message from Khan’s son, Kasim Khan, requesting proof that his father is alive, the Thiruvananthapuram MP remarked, “Apparently, nobody has provided any proof yet that his father is alive. That is a matter of some concern, and I speak only as an ordinary citizen of India; it is not a foreign policy matter for us.”

The Congress leader also stressed the humanitarian dimension of the issue. “That is an internal affair of Pakistan. But there is a human being at stake. There are cricket fans and others who would like to know what happened to the gentleman. You can’t put somebody in jail and make him disappear. So, if something has happened, the authority should come clean,” he noted.

Pakistani officials have, meanwhile, dismissed the rumours.

According to Rana Sanaullah, adviser to the Pakistan Prime Minister on Political Affairs, and senior PTI figures, as cited by Pakistani daily Dawn, Khan was “fine and nothing is wrong with him.”

However, despite official reassurances, PTI leaders have renewed requests to meet the jailed party founder, citing growing concern as he has reportedly been denied access to both family members and legal counsel for more than three weeks. Family members and party workers have staged demonstrations outside Adiala Jail demanding access, while a PTI delegation was again refused entry.

Speculation intensified after reports suggested that the 73-year-old former premier could be moved to a high-security facility, which would further restrict interactions. The matter gained significant traction on social media, with the hashtag #WhereIsImranKhan trending on microblogging site X.

The Interior Ministry of Pakistan has not issued any official response.