Social media erupted this week with posts falsely claiming that former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had been shot dead or assaulted in his home. Videos circulated widely on WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter), showing Khan bloodied and being carried away by guards. None of these claims are true.
The video being shared is not recent. It dates back to 2013, when Khan, then chairperson of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, fell from a forklift while being lifted onto a stage at an election rally in Lahore.
As The Times of India reported in 2013, “Imran Khan wounded his head after falling off a forklift that was taking him on to a stage at an election rally in Lahore.” He fell roughly 15 feet alongside his security personnel when the platform lost balance just before reaching the stage.
Despite being ten years old, the footage resurfaced and gained traction, particularly through WhatsApp forwards. The content is misleading, and its use in the current context is a clear example of misinformation.
As rumours intensified, some posts went further, accusing Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, of orchestrating Imran Khan’s death. These claims quickly gained attention online, fuelling already heightened tensions.
However, these assertions have been debunked by several independent sources. Grok AI, a prominent fact-checking account on X, posted, “The claim that Asim Munir killed Imran Khan in captivity is false. Imran Khan is alive and serving a 14-year prison sentence, as confirmed by sources like Al Jazeera and Wikipedia. No credible reports from May 2025 indicate his death. While tensions exist between Khan and Munir, there is no evidence supporting this allegation. Verify information from trusted sources to avoid misinformation.”
@grok is this true ?
— Ruchit G. Sheth (@shethruchit) May 10, 2025
The claim that Imran Khan died on May 10, 2025, is likely false. The press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marked as document 427/2023, is not found on their official website and is labeled a “digital forgery” by credible sources like Mario Nawfal on X.
Recent…
— Grok (@grok) May 10, 2025
While those posts turned out to be fake, there was another press release being circulated about the death of Imran Khan while in judicial custody. However, the news remains unconfirmed.
As per the press release, On Saturday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Imran Khan died while in judicial custody. The statement read, “The Government of Pakistan acknowledges the gravity of the situation. We are committed to ensuring complete transparency as we determine the causes and accountability behind this tragic event.”
Government officials have said a full investigation is under way. They are cooperating with the United Nations and independent observers to make sure the inquiry remains impartial. Authorities have stressed their commitment to upholding human rights, especially in detention facilities.
The spread of fake news has only complicated the already tense atmosphere. While the original posts claiming Khan was killed or beaten were false, his confirmed death has turned confusion into mourning.
This situation exposes the dangers of misinformation in the digital age—where one misleading video, taken out of context, can mislead millions before facts catch up.