ISLAMABAD — Aleema Khan, the sister of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, has rejected reports claiming that he recently met a former army chief, calling them “totally fake.”
Her remarks came as speculation over Khan’s jail meetings and possible contacts with Pakistan’s military establishment continued to circulate in political circles and on social media. Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, has been held in Adiala Jail since 2023 and faces multiple legal cases that he says are politically motivated.
Aleema Khan did not identify who she believed was behind the reports, but PTI leaders and Khan’s family have repeatedly complained about restrictions on meetings with the former premier. Dawn reported in November that Aleema had filed a contempt petition after PTI figures, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, said they were denied access to Khan at Adiala Jail.
The claim about a meeting with a former army chief comes against a tense political backdrop. Khan’s relationship with Pakistan’s military leadership deteriorated sharply after his removal from office in 2022, and questions about possible negotiations or back-channel contacts have remained a recurring theme in Pakistani politics. The Guardian previously reported, citing sources, that Pakistan’s military had no intention of cutting a deal with the jailed former premier.
The latest denial also follows a separate misinformation episode involving Aleema Khan. Fact-checking outlets reported that a viral video purporting to show her making remarks about Pakistan’s army chief and India was a deepfake. Sky News presenter Yalda Hakim, whose interview was used in the manipulated clip, said the video was fake and that the original interview did not include the claims being circulated online.
Pakistan’s military has also recently sharpened its criticism of Khan. The Associated Press reported that an army spokesperson accused the imprisoned former leader of using jail visits and social media to create division and undermine the armed forces, after Khan criticized Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir.
No official confirmation or independently verified evidence has emerged to support the claim that Khan met a former army chief in jail. Aleema Khan’s denial leaves the report in the category of unverified political speculation.
