Inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail 

November 28, 2025

Rumours surrounding Imran Khan’s condition triggered alarm across Pakistan

Rumours surrounding Imran Khan’s condition triggered alarm across Pakistan this week after unverified reports claimed that the former prime minister had died inside Adiala Jail. Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023, has been at the centre of intense speculation amplified by social media posts and political tensions.

The rumours sparked violent protests by thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf workers who attempted to force their way toward Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, alleging that authorities had killed the PTI chief. The situation prompted an immediate response from prison officials, who issued a formal statement denying the claims. They described the reports of Khan’s death or transfer as baseless. Officials said he was in good health and receiving all required medical care.

The episode has once again drawn widespread attention to Adiala Jail, the high-security prison where Khan remains incarcerated. The facility is among Pakistan’s most notorious, known for housing hardened criminals, extremist operatives, influential political figures, foreign convicts and inmates on death row. Its history dates back to the late nineteenth century. Rawalpindi’s original jail once stood in Committee Chowk and later shifted to the present Education Secretariat area. The existing Adiala Jail was established in 1882 at its current location near Jinnah Park. It has operated on the same 84.4-acre site for more than a century.

A major event in its history came in April 1979, when former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was executed inside the jail. Following the execution, the prison was rebuilt under General Zia-ul Haq. In its modern form, the facility includes sports and recreational spaces, a rehabilitation centre and both formal and religious education programmes. According to the Punjab Prisons Department, the jail is designed to hold 1,900 inmates. In reality, it houses more than triple that number, with estimates of around 6,000 prisoners, including several hundred women.

Reports by Pakistani media outlets, including The Dawn, describe Adiala Jail as Pakistan’s equivalent of Delhi’s Tihar Jail. Both facilities are known for holding high-profile inmates while simultaneously facing criticism over security lapses and poor living conditions. Over the decades, several prominent figures have been confined at Adiala. These include Asif Ali Zardari, Yousaf Raza Gilani, Nawaz Sharif, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and Mumtaz Qadri. The prison consists of eight blocks divided into multiple barracks, each with varying degrees of security.

Despite its high-profile status, conditions inside the jail remain grim. Severe overcrowding has left many inmates living in cramped, dimly lit and poorly ventilated spaces. Hunger, disease and inadequate medical facilities continue to be persistent concerns. Prisoners have repeatedly complained about sub-standard food. One inmate told The Dawn that although the jail manual mandates occasional servings of meat, rice and dessert, the food actually provided is often of low quality due to irregularities in supply contracts. He said the meat served sometimes smells of diesel rather than cooking oil, and drinking water from bore wells leaves inmates vulnerable to several illnesses. Security restrictions are also strict, with powerful jammers blocking mobile signals to prevent unauthorised communication.

Imran Khan’s imprisonment in Adiala has been marked by constant controversy. Khan, who was removed from office in 2022, is serving sentences linked to corruption, alleged mishandling of state secrets and issues related to his marriage. He maintains that all charges are politically motivated. His family has warned repeatedly about his living conditions. Earlier this year, his sons, Qasim and Suleman Khan, who live in London, posted appeals on social media demanding his release. Qasim described his father’s jail time as a period of forced separation, accusing authorities of denying regular family visits and access to Khan’s personal physician. In comments to The Independent, he alleged that the former prime minister was being kept in harsh conditions with poor hygiene and limited facilities.

As speculation over Khan’s health and safety continues, officials insist that the former prime minister remains in stable condition. However, concerns around conditions at Adiala Jail, its history and the political tensions surrounding his incarceration are likely to keep the prison — and Khan’s future — at the centre of public attention.