On Saturday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting termed as “fake” a press release announcing the death of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was not dead. The ministry called on citizens to spurn and “reject irresponsible behaviour” according to Hindustan Times. Earlier the same day, an undated statement bearing the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that mentioned Imran Khan passed away in judicial custody. That statement also claimed that there was an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his reported death and that the government was devoted to maximum transparency and accountability.
The event came amid legal action by Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which sought his release on Friday in a petition filed with the Islamabad High Court. The party claimed that Khan’s continued detention would cause him harm to his health, particularly in light of heightened tensions with neighboring India.
“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.” as mentioned by Hindustan Times
The fake news circulated amid India-Pakistan tensions which have been escalating quickly. After the Pahalgam Attack in Kashmir where 26 innocent tourists were killed, India gave back a strong retaliation by launching Operation Sindoor, a precision strike on Pakistan terrorist sites. But since then India and Pakistan have been involved in continuous conflict and even though a ceasefire was agreed upon between both the nations, Pakistan breached it and the tensions have been on peak.
