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Born inLahore, he graduated fromKeble College, Oxford. He began hisinternational cricket career in a1971 Test series against England. He advocated for neutralumpiring during his captaincy. He led Pakistan to its first-ever Test series victories inIndia andEngland during 1987. Playing until 1992, he captained the Pakistan national cricket team for most of the 1980s and early 1990s. In addition to achieving the all-rounder's triple of scoring 3,000runs and taking 300wickets in Tests, he holds the world record for the most wickets as a captain inTest cricket, along with thesecond-best bowling figures in an innings. Moreover, he has won the mostPlayer of the Series awards in Test cricket for Pakistan and ranks fourth overall in Test history. In 2009, he was inducted into theICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
In his bachelorhood, he had several relationships and was associated with London'snightlife. His first girlfriend,Emma Sergeant, was, according to him, the one woman he truly loved before his first marriage. He had a relationship with Ana-Luisa (Sita) White, daughter of industrialistGordon White. ACalifornia court ruled Khan to be the father of her daughter Tyrian Jade, though he denied paternity. He dated German MTV hostKristiane Backer, introducing her to Islam. He marriedJemima Goldsmith in 1995, had two sons, and divorced in 2004 due to her difficulty adjusting to life in Pakistan. He married British-Pakistani journalistReham Khan in January 2015, but they divorced in October the same year. He married his spiritual guideBushra Bibi on 18 February 2018.
He supportedGeneral Musharraf's1999 Pakistani coup d'état. His political career involved perceived closeness to themilitary establishment, including contacts with severalISI chiefs. He became a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the first time in the 2002 election. He contested the2018 Pakistani general election from five constituencies and became the first in Pakistan's electoral history to win all of them. He was elected prime minister in a PTI-led coalition government. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched Pakistan's largestwelfare programme. In February 2022, he became the first Pakistani prime minister since 2002 to visit Moscow, arriving on the same day theRussian invasion of Ukraine began. During hispremiership, he spoke out againstIslamophobia in thewestern world. Near the end of his term, Pakistan experienced surging inflation and the start of a severe years-longeconomic crisis.[4][5][6]
In April 2022, he became the first Pakistani prime minister to be removed from office through ano-confidence motion. He allegedUS involvement in his removal, blaming Washington for opposing his foreign policy that sought closer relations with China and Russia. In October 2022, theElection Commission of Pakistan barred him for one term from the National Assembly over theToshakhana case. In November, he survived anassassination attempt. In May 2023, he was arrested at the Islamabad High Court during a hearing related to the corruption charges; following theMay 9 riots, he was released on protective bail a few days later. He was arrested again in August 2023. He has since been sentenced to 14 years in theAl-Qadir Trust case and, as of December 2024, faced 186 cases across Pakistan. He has alleged that his imprisonment is politically motivated, blaming the post-2022 military establishment and theShehbaz Sharif government, both of which deny the claim.
Khan was born inLahore on 5 October 1952.[8][b] He is the only son of Ikramullah Khan Niazi, a civil engineer, and his wife, Shaukat Khanum, and has four sisters.[11] Paternally, he is ofPathan origin from theNiazi tribe.[12][13] His maternal family is from theBurki community,[14] having lived nearJalandhar for centuries before migrating to Pakistan after Independence in 1947.[15][16]
Khan had several relationships in his bachelorhood.[23] He was known as a "playboy" who was active in London'snightlife, often visitingTramp inSt James's.[24][25] One or two of his girlfriends were called "mysterious blondes" in British tabloids. During the 1980s and 1990s, he was regarded as one of the mosteligible bachelors.[26]
His first girlfriend,Emma Sergeant, an artist and daughter of British investor SirPatrick Sergeant, introduced him tosocialites.The Times states Emma was the "one woman he truly loved before his first marriage."[26] They met in 1982 and visited Pakistan. She accompanied him everywhere, including a hunting trip toPeshawar and a cricket tour to Australia.[27] She painted his portrait during their relationship at his request.[28] HisChelsea residence, near Sergeant's studio and Tramp, became central to his social life. After long separations, their relationship ended in 1986.[26]
Jonathan Orders introduced him to Susie Murray-Philipson, whom he later invited to Pakistan and had dinner with in 1982. Their relationship did not progress, as Philipson felt out of place and found cultural differences irreconcilable. He also briefly datedSusannah Constantine, whom he met through Lulu Blacker; their relationship lasted about a year. Julia Verdin and Doone Murray were among other women associated with him, with their relationships receiving media attention.[26]
Ana-Luisa White, daughter of British industrialistGordon White and later known as Sita, began her relationship with him in 1986, shortly after his breakup with Emma. The relationship lasted two years, ending when he reportedly wrote that he could not love her as Emma would always be the love of his life. White became pregnant after a final encounter in 1991 and gave birth to a daughter, Tyrian Jade,[31][32] in June 1992. She later claimed he was the father and kept a framed photograph of him.[27] Tyrian became the subject of a legal dispute in 1997 when aCalifornia court ruled him her father after White filed a paternity suit. The ruling followed his failure to respond to the suit or a blood test request.[33] He denied paternity, saying he does not live in California or England and welcomes White to Pakistan to present his side in court. He offered to take apaternity test in Pakistan and said he would accept the decision of the Pakistani courts.[34] After White's death in 2004, Jemima, his wife and a friend of Sita, was named Tyrian's legal guardian in her will. He said Tyrian could join their family in London, leaving the decision to her due to her relationship with his and Jemima's sons.[35]
In August 1992, he began datingKristiane Backer, a German MTV host; he introduced her to Islam during their nearly three-year relationship.[36]
Khan andJemima Goldsmith confirmed their engagement on 12 May 1995. The couple said they would marry, with him stating Jemima converted to Islam "through her own convictions" after studying the religion. Both families approved of the match. A spokesperson for her father denied rumours that Jemima was pregnant.[37] On 16 May 1995, the couple married in a brief two-minute IslamicNikah ceremony in Paris. On 21 June, they had acivil ceremony at theRichmond register office before moving to Lahore. They had two sons, Sulaiman Isa and Kasim.[38] On 22 June 2004, the couple divorced, ending their nine-year marriage as it was "difficult for Jemima to adapt to life in Pakistan."[39]
On 8 January 2015, he married British-Pakistani journalistReham Khan in a private Nikah ceremony at his Islamabad residence.[40] On 22 October 2015, they announced plans to divorce.[41]
In 2016, media speculated about his possible third marriage, linked to his spiritual ties with the Maneka family ofPakpattan. Reports claimed he visited Pakpattan several times in July to meetMaryam Riaz Wattoo, sister of his spiritual guideBushra Bibi. He dismissed the claims as "absolutely baseless".[42] Members of the Manika family also denied the rumour.[43] He called the media "unethical" for spreading it,[44] and PTI filed a complaint against the channels involved.[45]
In 2017, PTI memberAyesha Gulalai alleged that he, then party chairman, sexually harassed her.[46] Gulalai said he had sent her "inappropriate text messages",[47] with the first sent in October 2013.[48][49] He supported Prime MinisterShahid Khaqan Abbasi's proposal for a special committee to investigate the claims. He said he had not sent "indecent messages" to Gulalai and "challenge[d] the [proposed] committee to find [the indecent texts] if there are any".[50] Khan opposed the proposed ethics committee after its composition emerged, calling it unfair for a government formed body, and said an independent panel should first assess the allegations.[51] He refused to cooperate with the bipartisan committee;[48] PTI filed a defamation suit against Gulalai,[52][53] whichIDS Bulletin described as filed by Khan himself. No inquiry was ultimately conducted, and Gulalai did not publicly release the alleged messages.[48]
On 7 January 2018, the PTI central secretariat said he had proposed to Bushra, but she had not yet accepted.[54] On 18 February 2018, PTI confirmed he had married Bushra.[55] Themufti who conducted the marriage later testified that his nikah was performed twice. He said the first, on 1 January 2018, occurred while Bushra was still iniddat, and alleged he believed marrying on that date would help him become prime minister.[56]
Khan as a test cricketer at a luncheon withSydney University's Vice-ChancellorJohn Manning Ward before playing for the university club. Seated: Imran Khan, Chancellor SirHermann Black, Coach John Dyson. Ward stands second from left, 1984
Khan made hisfirst-class debut at 16 inLahore. By the early 1970s, he played for local teams: Lahore A,[c] Lahore B,[d] Lahore Greens,[e] andLahore.[f][58] He was part of the University of Oxford Blues Cricket team from 1973 to 1975.[22] Between 1971 and 1976, Khan played English county cricket forWorcestershire and also represented Dawood Industries[g] andPakistan International Airlines.[h] From 1983 to 1988, he played forSussex.[58]
In 1982, Khan became captain of the Pakistan national cricket team.[68] Under him, Pakistan won their first Test in England in 28 years atLord's in 1982.[69] In 1983, he was named aWisden Cricketer of the Year.[70] DuringPakistan's 1982–83 series against India, he took 40 wickets at an average of 13.95.[71] In January 1983, he became the second cricketer, afterIan Botham, to score acentury and take 10 wickets in a Test.[72] Next month, he reached a Test bowling rating of 922,[i] the highestInternational Cricket Council (ICC) rating since World War I,[73] and third in all-time ICC Test bowling.[74] He became the first Pakistani bowler to take 200 Test wickets, withWisden Cricketers' Almanack noting he "bowled with such venom and fire that no Indianbatsman other thanMohinder Amarnath faced him with any confidence."[75] The series caused a stress fracture in his left shin, sidelining him over two years. Initially, he could bat but not bowl; later, he could not play at all. An experimental treatment in London, funded by the Pakistani government, helped him recover by late 1984. He returned underJaved Miandad's captaincy in the 1984–85 home series against Sri Lanka. Afterward, Miandad stepped down, citing limited co-operation from him, who was then reappointed captain.[76]
In 1987, Khan led Pakistan to its first Test series win in India, followed by its first series victory inEngland the same year.[69] He retired from international cricket after the1987 Cricket World Cup.[79] He was asked to return as captain byGeneral Zia-ul-Haq, and he accepted the offer.[80] In 1988, he led Pakistan on a successful West Indies tour.[81] He was namedMan of the Series, taking 23 wickets in three Tests.[82][83] He became the first Asian and eighth non-Australian to win theInternational Cricketer of the Year in 1989.[84]
As captain, he led Pakistan in 48 Tests (14 wins, 8 losses, 26 draws) and 139 ODIs (75 wins, 59 losses, 1 tie).[68] In Tests, he holds the record for most wickets as captain, second-bestinnings figures (8/60), most five-wicket hauls in an innings (12), and most ten-wicket match hauls (4).[85]
1992 Cricket World Cup final
Khan presenting the World Cup to the then Prime Minister of Pakistan,Nawaz Sharif, during a dinner held in the team's honour after their win in the 1992 World Cup.[86]
Khan led Pakistan to victory in the1992 Cricket World Cup.[87] In the final, he top-scored with 72 runs.[88] He brought back Wasim Akram in the 35thover afterAllan Lamb andNeil Fairbrother had added 72 runs. Akram dismissed Lamb andChris Lewis.[89] He claimed the final wicket himself.[88] This was Pakistan's first world cup victory.[89] After the victory, he said,
It was rock-bottom when we lost to South Africa. I told the boys they had to play as if they were cornered tigers. I told them to forget about bowling no-balls and wides, and just go out there and fight.[90]
Retirement
He played his last Test in January 1992 against Sri Lanka and retired after leading Pakistan to victory in the1992 Cricket World Cup final.[67]
He ended his career with 88 Tests, 126 innings, scoring 3,807 runs at an average of 37.69, including six centuries, 18 fifties, and a highest score of 136.[67] He had the second-highest all-time Testbatting average of 61.86 playing at number six in thebatting order.[91] As a bowler, he took 362 Test wickets.[67] He has won the mostPlayer of the Series awards for Pakistan in Test cricket, ranking fourth overall in Test history.[92] In ODIs, he played 175 matches, scoring 3,709 runs at an average of 33.41, with a highest score of 102not out.[67] His best ODIbowling was 6 for 14, the highest ODI innings figures recorded by any bowler in a defeat.[93] He achieved theall-rounder's triple—3,000 runs and 300 wickets—in 75 Tests,[94] becoming among the first four players to reach it. As of 2025, he is one of eleven players to do so,[95] and his 75-Test achievement is the third-fastest ever.[94]
Post-retirement from cricket
After retiring, Khan said he had engaged inball tampering duringcounty cricket, saying he "occasionally scratched the side of the ball and lifted theseam," and defended it by saying it was a commonplace practice.[96] He announced his return as a domestic league coach in May 2003.[97]
He occasionally appeared as a cricket commentator on Star TV.[98] In 2004, during the Indian cricket team's tour of Pakistan, he appeared as a commentator onTEN Sports' live show,Straight Drive.[99]
On 23 November 2005, Khan was appointedchancellor of theUniversity of Bradford.[100] In 2009, he was inducted into theICC Cricket Hall of Fame.[101] On 26 February 2014, theUniversity of Bradford Union moved a no-confidence motion to remove him for missing all graduation ceremonies since 2010.[102] On 30 November 2014, he stepped down, citing "increasing political commitments," although it was reported that he effectively resigned under pressure.[103]
Philanthropy
Khan served asUNICEF Special Representative for Sports, promoting health andimmunisation programmes in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.[104][105] In 1994, he founded Pakistan's first cancer hospital, theShaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, named after his mother,[106] who had died of cancer.[107] He raised funds by touring the country, with most donations coming from common people.[106] He aimed to provide free treatment to underprivileged patients, and as of 2024, 70% of patients receive free care.[107]
To aid victims of the2001 Islamabad cloud burst, Khan auctioned his signed 1992 Cricket World Cup bat and match sweater; the bat alone fetched US$20,000. He said these were the last items he had, having earlier auctioned the rest for Shaukat Khanum Hospital.[108]
In December 2005, Khan, then Chancellor of the University of Bradford, signed amemorandum of understanding to establishNamal College inMianwali as its associate college. Built by the Mianwali Development Trust on land donated by locals, it aimed to tackle unemployment through technical and vocational education.[109] The college opened in 2008.[110]
In 2006, while visiting his children in London, he also worked with theLord's Taverners cricket charity.[106]
Khan established The Imran Khan Foundation (IKF) in February 2006.[111] In January 2013, IKF launched a Rs30 million relief project forinternally displaced persons of theMehsud tribe fromNorth Waziristan, providing food, winter essentials, and tents to 2,600 families inTank,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who had limited government assistance.[112]
In 1995,Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, fearing a military coup that could make him Prime Minister, responded with punitive measures. State television refused to air archival cricket footage and banned fundraising ads forShaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital duringRamadan. Authorities also planted rumours that he was under investigation for embezzlement and tax irregularities. Donations to the hospital halved that year as a result.[113]
On 25 April 1996, he founded the political partyPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).[114]Nawaz Sharif invited him to joinhis party, offering second-in-command position and 30 National Assembly seats; he declined.[115] He ran for the National Assembly in the 1997 election from the constituencies — NA-53 Mianwali and NA-94 Lahore — as a PTI candidate but lost both to thePakistan Muslim League (N) (PML (N)).[116]
He supportedGeneral Musharraf's1999 Pakistani coup d'état,[117] believing Musharraf would "end corruption and clear out the political mafias."[118] His PTI was among the parties that supportedPervez Musharraf in the2002 Pakistani referendum.[119] In July 2002, Musharraf's principal secretary Tariq Aziz tried to persuade Khan to join a pro-military alliance, but the meeting ended in acrimony, with Aziz telling him, "You will never win your seat now."[120] Khan participated in the2002 Pakistani general election and said that if his party did not win a majority, they would consider forming a coalition.[121] He was the only winner from PTI in that election.[122]
In August 2005,Declan Walsh called him a "miserable politician", saying "Khan's ideas and affiliations since entering politics in 1996 have swerved and skidded like arickshaw in a rainshower... He preaches democracy one day but gives a vote to reactionary mullahs the next."[124]
In March 2006, he was escorted home by police and placed underhouse arrest after threatening to protest againstPresident George W. Bush during his visit to Pakistan.[125]
Khan tearing his nomination paper for the National Assembly at a press conference; he boycotted the 2008 elections.
On 30 October 2011, he addressed over 100,000 supporters at theMinar-e-Pakistan inLahore, challenging government policies, and calling his movement "not a flood that is coming, but a tsunami."[132] Another gathering of at least 100,000 supporters occurred inKarachi on 25 December 2011.[133]
In August 2012, thePakistani Taliban issued death threats to him over his march to their tribal stronghold to protestU.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, calling him a "liberal" and "secular" — terms they equated with being an infidel.[134] On 1 October, they withdrew death threats and offered him protection for the rally. They "endorse[d] Imran Khan's plea that drone strikes are against our sovereignty."[135] On 6 October, he led a convoy of 10,000 to protest US drone strikes. The convoy was stopped by hundreds of security personnel just miles fromSouth Waziristan's border. After an hour of failed negotiations, he announced the rally would return toTank, about 15 kilometres away.[136]
2013 elections
Khan chose thecricket bat as theelectoral symbol for his party in the 2013 elections, and it remained as such until 2023
On 21 April 2013, Khan launched his election campaign from Lahore, addressing thousands atThe Mall.[137] He announced he would pull Pakistan from the US-ledwar on terror and said he would work to bring peace to thePashtun tribal belt.[138] He announced that PTI would introduce a uniform education system aimed at providing equal opportunities for all children.[139] He concluded his campaign in South Punjab'sSeraiki belt by addressing rallies in various cities.[140]
On 7 May, four days before the elections, he fell from a lifter while boarding a stage at a rally, sustaining head injuries,[141] and four fractured vertebrae.[142] He ended the campaign by addressing a rally in Islamabad viavideo link from his hospital bed.[143]
The2013 Pakistani general election was held on 11 May. The PML (N), headed by Nawaz Sharif, won, while he alleged vote-rigging.[144] The day after the elections,Asad Umar, a leader from his party, announced that Khan had conceded defeat to PML (N).[145] While his party welcomed the vote, he pledged to release awhite paper on alleged rigging and announced plans for protests.[146]
Khan became PTI's parliamentary leader in the National Assembly after the 2013 elections.[149] On 31 July 2013, he received a contempt-of-court notice for allegedly describing the superior judiciary as "shameful."[150] The notice was discharged after he told the Supreme Court that his criticism targeted lower-court judicial officers serving as returning officers during the elections.[151]
Khan meets U.S. Secretary of StateJohn Kerry in August 2013 while he was in opposition
He was criticised for supportingSami-ul-Haq, described as the "Father of the Taliban," and funding his seminary,Darul Uloom Haqqania.[152] He accused the US of undermining peace with the Pakistani Taliban by killing its leaderHakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike in 2013. He announced plans for protests and to blockNATO's supply lines to Afghanistan if drone attacks, which he said "fanned fanaticism," continued.[153]
On 11 May 2014, a year after the elections, he demanded the resignation of allElection Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members, a new ECP, and strict punishment for those who "stole the mandate of the masses."[154] On 14 August 2014, he leda rally from Lahore to Islamabad, demanding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation and an investigation into alleged electoral fraud.[155] He and Canadian-Pakistani clericMuhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri formed a "de facto" alliance to mobilise supporters for a regime-change campaign against Sharif.[156][157]
In 2014, then-PTI presidentJaved Hashmi alleged Khan was instructed by the army to coordinate his protests withPakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).[149] Hashmi accused him of being "influenced by a 'signal' from outside," whichThe New York Times called "an apparent reference to military intervention."[158] TheInter-Services Public Relations said it backed neither PTI nor PAT. The army acted as mediator between the protesters and the government.[159] In 2016, Hashmi said Khan had "conspired" with "disgruntled elements in the army".[160] In theRoutledge Handbook of Contemporary Pakistan, Aparna Pande, a Research Fellow at theHudson Institute, writes that parts of the army backed the protests; Khan was advised by then ISI chiefZaheer-ul-Islam, and the ISI drafted Qadri to lead them.[161]
On 1 September, protesters led by Qadri and him attempted to storm Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's official residence, triggering violence that left three dead and over 595 injured, including 115 police officers.[162] PTI and PAT protesters also stormed state-runPTV, assaulting staff.[163] Later in September, he urged supporters to burn electricity bills and joincivil disobedience.[164] Following the2014 Peshawar school massacre, he ended his 126-day sit-in on 17 December for national unity.[165]
In March 2015, his party agreed with theSharif administration to form a judicial commission to probe electoral fraud, a move facilitated by Army ChiefGeneral Raheel Sharif.[166] In July, the commission found the elections broadly fair with no systemic rigging.[167] He accepted the commission's findings but said he had not received a copy.[168]
He campaigned against Sharif after thePanama Papers leak in 2016, leading protests and calling for his resignation over corruption allegations.[169]
2018 elections campaign
Khan campaigns for the elections inSindh while wearing a traditionalSindhi cap andAjrak in 2017
Opposition parties alleged "massive rigging" and military influence in his favour.[176]Nawaz Sharif andPML (N) alleged that the military aligned with the judiciary affected the election outcome in his favour.[177] The Election Commission rejected the allegations.[178] Two days after the 2018 elections,Michael Gahler, chief observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission to Pakistan, said the overall situation of the election was satisfactory.[179]
Khan was sworn in as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan on 18 August 2018 after his party,Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), won the 2018 election.[185] He initially held theMinistry of Interior portfolio after forming his cabinet.[186]
On taking office, he cut spending by reducing PM staff from 524 to 2,[187] and auctioning eight buffaloes and 61 luxury vehicles previously acquired for the PM's office.[188] According toBBC, he was criticised for using a helicopter to commute while promoting austerity.[189]
In June 2020,Bloomberg said that his popularity was falling, citing what it described as a weak economy, inflation, and corruption probes involving his aides.[190] In 2021, official records showed that PM House expenses and PM Office budget fell by 49% and 29%, respectively.[191] His 12 foreign trips cost $680,000, which was less than a single New York visit by his predecessors.[192] After his no-confidence, economistAtif Mian said Khan inherited a bad economy and left it worse, adding there was "zero increase in average income" with Pakistan still in abalance of payments crisis.[193]
Environment and energy
In July 2018, then Chief Justice of Pakistan,Saqib Nisar, launched a fundraiser for the construction of theDiamer-Bhasha Dam andMohmand Dam.[194] Khan urged overseas Pakistanis to support Nisar's fundraiser.[195]As of November 2023, the dams fund was Rs17.86 billion.[194]
In June 2020, Khan attended the signing ceremony for the $2.5 billionKohala Hydropower Project (1,124 MW).[197] In July 2020, he announced the establishment of 15national parks under theProtected Areas Initiative.[198] In December 2020, he announced at the Climate Ambition Summit that Pakistan would scrap two coal projects (2,600 MW) and set a target of 60% renewable energy by 2030.[199]
In November 2022, Khan said he had offered Bajwa a second extension in March that year amid ano-confidence move against his government. According to ISI chief Lt GenNadeem Anjum, Bajwa rejected that offer.[205] In December 2022, Khan said he had committed a "big mistake" by extending Bajwa's tenure in 2019.[206]
Press freedom
In 2019, the Interior Ministry investigated individuals and groups, including journalists, who posted images of themurdered Saudi journalistJamal Khashoggi on social media duringMohammad Bin Salman's visit to Pakistan.[207][208] In December 2021, theInternational Press Institute sent an open letter to Khan, citing "grave concerns" over the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) ordinance.[209] APakistan Press Foundation report said that he, without providing evidence, referred to journalists as "mafias" and "blackmailers".[210]
Accountability
During the 2020 sugar price surge, Khan ordered an inquiry that implicated government and opposition figures and documented widespread wrongdoing in the sugar industry.[211] In December 2020, Khan said he wantedNawaz Sharif extradited from London to Pakistan to face trial in thePanama Papers case.[212] In 2021, after thePandora Papers revealed some of his ministers' offshore holdings, he said any wrongdoing was their "individual acts and they will have to be held accountable". TheICIJ said the documents "contain no suggestion that Khan himself owns offshore companies". Asked about two companies at a similar address, he said he had no link and added that two houses in the same neighbourhood share the address.[213]
The 2022 Cabinet Division yearbook said the Assets Recovery Unit (ARU), established by Khan, helped agencies recover Rs426.4 billion, which was Rs93.9 billion more than total recoveries from 2000 to 2017. The ARU supports law enforcement agencies and does not recover assets directly.[214]
In 2023,The Daily Telegraph reported that Lt. GeneralAsim Munir proposed an investigation into corruption allegations involving Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, during Khan's tenure in June 2019. Shortly afterward, Munir was removed asDirector-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Khan said Munir's proposed investigation was not the reason for his removal.[201]
In September 2020, Khan expressed support forpublic hanging andchemical castration forsex offenders, but said public hanging would be unacceptable internationally and harm trade, so he suggested chemical castration instead.[216] TheCouncil of Islamic Ideology deemed chemical castration un-Islamic, so the punishment was removed from an anti-rape law that was passed in late 2021.[217]
In December 2020, educationistMichael Barber called theEhsaas Programme his flagship initiative, praising its transparency, multi-sectoral approach, and initiatives likeEhsaas Kafaalat andNashonuma.[218]
In June 2021, Khan drew criticism when he suggested that the rise in rape cases in Pakistan was linked to women wearing "very few clothes," claiming that such behavior would "have an impact on the men unless they are robots." This comment was criticised by women's rights groups, accusing him of being a "rape apologist."[219] Khan later said the rapist is always solely responsible, the victim never is, and his earlier comments were taken out of context.[220]
Prime Minister Khan calls for global debt relief amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, April 2020
On 17 March 2020, Khan addressed the nation for the first time regardingCOVID-19 in Pakistan. He ruled out a complete lockdown, citing extreme poverty.[221] After he ruled out a lockdown again on 22 March 2020, the Pakistan Army took action at the request of the provinces, imposing a nationwide lockdown within 24 hours.[222][223] AnalystAyesha Siddiqa said he appeared confused and reliant on a military that made key decisions without him.[224]
Khan elevated the status of the construction sector to that of an industry and provided incentives such as tax breaks, sales tax reduction in coordination with provinces, and a subsidy of Rs30 billion to theNaya Pakistan Housing & Development Authority. He said that investors in the industry would not be asked about their source of income for the year and removed withholding tax for all construction sectors except cement and steel. Additionally, capital gains tax was withdrawn for homeowners selling houses.[225]
Khan launched Pakistan's largest welfare programme,[226] distributing a lump sum of Rs12,000 to 10 million low-income citizens under theEhsaas Programme.[227]
Khan also adopted asmart lockdown strategy, which used military technology for tracking and tracing COVID-19 cases, targeting specific virus hotspots instead of implementing a nationwide lockdown.[228][229] He said that strict lockdowns would devastate Pakistan's economy and lead to starvation.[230]
Khan called for debt relief for developing nations during the pandemic, a proposal that gained support from the United Nations and several African countries.[231][232]
President Donald Trump tweeted in November 2018 that he would cut billions in aid to Pakistan, saying it had not done "a damn thing for us." Khan responded that U.S. aid was a "minuscule" $20 billion, while Pakistan had lost 75,000 lives and over $123 billion fighting the "USwar on terror." Khan also said that Pakistan had provided supply routes to U.S. forces, asking, "Can Mr Trump name another ally that gave such sacrifices?"[233] He later told the US that Pakistan would no longer act as its "hired gun."[234]
In February 2022, Khan became the first Pakistani prime minister in two decades to visit Moscow to discuss economic and energy cooperation. A video showed him saying, "What a time I have come...so much excitement," which coincided with the start of theRussian invasion of Ukraine. The visit was criticised by the United States.[245][246] Khan discussed "economic and energy cooperation" with Russian president Vladimir Putin, including development of thePakistan Stream gas pipeline.[247][248] Khan said the visit was pre-planned and was intended to maintain neutrality in global alliances.[249] At a UN General Assembly emergency session, Pakistan abstained from condemning Russia, with him calling for de-escalation and respect for international law.[250] He expressed criticism ofWestern envoys who urged Pakistan to support the UN resolution.[251] After his ouster, Khan said the visit had secured offers of discounted oil and wheat. The Russian ambassador said no formal agreements were signed.[252]
FATF compliance
In June 2022, two months after his ouster,FATF removed Pakistan from the grey list, citing completion of the 2018 and 2021 action plans.[253] Khan attributed the outcome to his government, especially former energy ministerHammad Azhar, who led the FATF Coordination Committee.[254] TheFirst Shehbaz Sharif government also said that it deserved credit, whileThe Express Tribune said Khan's government had "done most of the work."[255]
In September 2019, Khan, along with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, announced an English-language TV channel to addressIslamophobia.[257] In October 2020, Khan objected to the spread of Islamophobia, urging Facebook to ban related content and accusing French President Emmanuel Macron of attacking Islam for supporting cartoons ofProphet Muhammad.[258] In 2021, Khan called on Muslim countries to pressthe West to criminalise insults against Prophet Muhammad, likening it to laws againstHolocaust denial.[259] He said, "We need to explain why this hurts us, when in the name of freedom of speech they insult the honour of the prophet... when 50 Muslim countries will unite and say this, and say that if something like this happens in any country, then we will launch a trade boycott on them and not buy their goods, that will have an effect."[260] In March 2022, Pakistan led a UN resolution to designate 15 March as theInternational Day to Combat Islamophobia.[261]
In August 2023,The Intercept published leakedCypher No. I-0678 showing that, on 7 March 2022, US State Department officials, includingDonald Lu, raised concern over his stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to the cipher, as reported by Pakistan's ambassador, the U.S. said that "all will be forgiven in Washington" if he was removed in the no-confidence motion and indicated the possibility of economic and political isolation if he stayed. After publication, the U.S. denied trying to remove him, saying its concerns were about policy, not leadership.[262]
On 8 March 2022, opposition parties filed a no-confidence motion against him, alleging economic mismanagement such as — rising inflation, high debt, a weakening currency —and foreign policy.[263] By 18 March, some party members had defected and two coalition partners joined the opposition, causing him to lose his National Assembly majority.[264][265]
On 27 March, he showed the cipher at a rally, alleging foreign interference and US involvement in his removal.[266] TheNational Security Council (NSC) also expressed concerns about foreign interference.[267] On 3 April 2022, PresidentArif Alvi, acting on his advice, dissolved the National Assembly after the Deputy Speaker rejected the no-confidence motion. The opposition called the rejection "unconstitutional" and petitioned the Supreme Court.[268] On 10 April, he sent the cipher to the Supreme Court, despite legal warnings about potential breaches of constitutional oaths and theOfficial Secrets Act.[269] He was ousted after a Supreme Court ruling on 10 April deemed the rejection of the no-confidence motion illegal, with the vote passing to remove him, making him the first Pakistani PM ousted by no-confidence.[270][271]
After his removal, Khan again alleged US involvement, stating that the US opposed his foreign policy that strengthened ties with China and Russia.[272] In November 2022, when asked about the alleged conspiracy to remove him, he said it was "behind me" and said he wanted Pakistan to maintain good relations with all countries, particularly the United States. He said, "The Pakistan I want to lead must have good relationships with everyone, especially the United States. Our relationship with the US has been as of a master-servant relationship, or a master-slave relationship, and we've been used like a hired gun. But for that I blame my own governments more than the US."[273]
Misogynistic remark
In a 2022 speech, Khan referenced a clip ofMaryam Nawaz repeatedly mentioning him. He said: "Someone sent me a clip on social media of Maryam's speech...she took my name so many times and with so much passion...Maryam, please be careful, your husband might get upset." According toDawn, his remarks followed her repeated tirades against him andBushra Bibi.[274] TheHuman Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned Khan's remarks, saying they "plumbed the depths ofmisogyny" and demanded an apology to Maryam and all women.[275]
Khan reportedly retained 58 gifts, 14 valued over Rs 14,000 each. On 8 September, he rejected the allegations and asked the ECP to dismiss the case, saying all purchases were lawfully declared in his tax returns and wealth statements. Hearings were delayed as his legal team sought extensions.[278]
On 21 October 2022, the ECP disqualified Khan underArticle 63(1)(p) of the Constitution, ruling he submitted a false statement and incorrect asset declaration for 2020–21. A four-member bench unanimously found he had misled officials about Toshakhana gifts and ordered criminal proceedings under theElection Act, 2017.[279]
Khan provides his perspective on theMay 9 riots in July 2023.
Following an arrest warrant from the district and sessions court in Islamabad, the Islamabad Police and Lahore Police moved to arrest Khan on 14 March 2023.[280] On 9 May, he was arrested at the Islamabad High Court in connection with theAl-Qadir Trust case.[281] The case alleges that Khan and his wife, Bushra, received land worth billions fromMalik Riaz in exchange for a deal that caused the national exchequer to lose Rs50 billion (£190 million).[282] The funds, recovered by the UK'sNational Crime Agency, were meant for the national treasury but were used to pay fines on Riaz for acquiring government land below market rates. The couple, sole trustees of theAl-Qadir Trust, are accused of benefiting, including acquiring 458kanals forAl-Qadir University inJhelum.[283]
His arrest triggered theMay 9 riots, with PTI supporters allegedly attacking military and government installations.[284] The Supreme Court of Pakistan declared the arrest illegal, citing the violation of judicial sanctity by paramilitary forces.[285] On 12 May, he received protective bail, which barred re-arrest on the same charges for two weeks.[286]
On 5 August 2023, he was arrested again and sentenced to three years after being found guilty of misusing his premiership to buy and sell state gifts received abroad, valued over 140 millionrupees.[287] On 29 August 2023, an appeals court suspended his corruption conviction and prison term, granting him bail.[288] A special court ordered that he remain in jail in thecypher case,[289] in which he was accused of leaking state secrets and violating theOfficial Secrets Act.[290] Since then, he has been held inAdiala Jail inRawalpindi, where the special court conducts his trial.[291]
In August 2023, following the Supreme Court's order on his complaint regarding detention conditions, the government said that his meals included bread, omelette, curd, tea, fruits, vegetables, pulses, rice, anddesi mutton cooked inghee, and that his cell was cleaned daily.[292]
On 30 January 2024, he was convicted in the cypher case and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment.[291] He said the charges were politically motivated.[291] The next day, he was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in the Toshakhana case for unlawfully selling state gifts received by him and his wife, Bushra, as prime minister.[293] The sentence was suspended on 1 April, pending a court decision afterEid.[294] On 3 February, he and his wife were sentenced to seven years and fined 500,000 rupees each in acriminal case over allegations that Bushra had not completed herIddat before marrying Khan in 2018.[295]
On 30 May 2024, he told the Supreme Court he was in solitary confinement with restricted meetings with lawyers and family. In June, the government said that his cell had a walking area, cooler, television, exercise equipment, and a separate kitchen, and that he could meet his legal team and family. It submitted photos of the cell and a meeting with his lawyers.[296]
On 3 June 2024, the Islamabad High Court overturned his cypher case conviction. He remained in prison due to other convictions and pending charges.[297] On 13 July, his marriage case conviction was overturned, but he remained in prison after bail was cancelled in a separate May 9 riots case.[298]
In June 2024, theWorking Group on Arbitrary Detention called for his release, saying his detention was arbitrary and politically motivated.[299] In a July interview withThe Sunday Times from prison, he said he is held in a small "death cell" usually "reserved for terrorists".[300] In September 2024,Amnesty International said it had "noted a pattern of weaponisation of the legal system to keep him detained and away from political activity" and called for his immediate release.[301] In October 2024, authorities said he undergoes a medical examination every two weeks and no health issues have been observed.[302]
On 8 October 2024, Pakistani police charged him with attempted murder over a police officer's death during his supporters' protests in Islamabad.[303] On 22 November 2024, the IHC granted him bail in the Toshakhana case, but he remained in jail due to other cases.[304] On 24 November, Khan's supporters attemptednationwide protests demanding his release.[305] Since the 2022 no-confidence vote, he has been named in 186 legal cases across Pakistan, as reported in December 2024.[306] On 17 January 2025, he was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment by an accountability court in the Al-Qadir Trust case.[283] On 21 August 2025, the SCP granted him bail in eight 9 May riot cases; however, he remained jailed due to his Al-Qadir Trust case sentence.[307]
On 21 December 2025, he was sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment and fined Rs16.4 million in the Toshakhana-II case. The court found that aBulgari jewellery set gifted by Saudi Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salman, valued at about Rs80 million, was acquired by Khan for Rs2.9 million. It credited time served and described the sentence as lenient due to his old age.[308]
Khan's views regarding imprisonment
Khan says his imprisonment is politically motivated, alleging involvement by the Pakistan Armed Forces (theEstablishment) andShehbaz Sharif's government.[309] Both the military and government denied the allegations; the military called them "fabricated and malicious" while Sharif termed them "blatant lies".[310] In June 2024, appearing before the Supreme Court via video from jail, he said Pakistan is under "undeclaredmartial law".[311] In August 2024, he said theISI controls all matters of his imprisonment and has made his jail conditions harsher.[312]
On 3 November 2022, Khan was shot in the legin an assassination attempt inWazirabad while leading a march toIslamabad demanding early elections.[313] One of his supporters died in the attack.[314] The alleged perpetrator, Muhammad Naveed, was overpowered by a supporter of Khan, throwing off his aim.[315] Naveed said he acted alone, targeting him because he believed Khan was misleading the people.[316][317] Khan blamed the incumbent government—Prime MinisterShehbaz Sharif, Interior MinisterRana Sanaullah, and Major GeneralFaisal Naseer—for the assassination plot but provided no evidence. Government and military officials denied involvement. Federal Information MinisterMaryam Aurangzeb questioned how Khan could demand resignations before any investigation. TheInter-Services Public Relations called the allegations baseless and irresponsible. Sanaullah also rejected them as grievous.[318][319]
2024 Pakistani general election
In December 2023, he nominatedGohar Ali Khan to replace him as PTI chairman, with Gohar being elected unopposed.[320] Later that month, the ECP rejected his nomination papers for the2024 Pakistani general election on the grounds that he was "convicted by the court of law and has been disqualified".[321] Before the elections, his name was barred from the media, andTIME reported that constituency boundaries were redrawn to allegedly benefit his opponents.[322]
A PTI official said he was allowed to vote by postal ballot from prison.[323] He issued anAI-generated message urging supporters to celebrate the electoral win, in which at least 90 candidates backed by him, all of whom were forced to run as independents, won seats.[324] PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan said Khan directed PTI-backed independents to form governments in the Centre,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, andPunjab. Gohar said Khan told his party to sit in opposition nationally rather than join a coalition with rival parties, including thePakistan Muslim League (N) andPakistan Peoples Party.[325]
University of Oxford Chancellor candidacy
In August 2024,Zulfi Bukhari said he submitted an application for Khan to contest theUniversity of Oxford Chancellor election.[326] On 16 October 2024, university officials disqualified Khan from the race based on established exclusion criteria, accepting 38 of over 40 applicants.[327][328] They cited his prior conviction and active political role, inconsistent with the position's requirements.[328]
Wealth and assets
In his 2003 statement to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Khan declared his home inZaman Park, Lahore, an Islamabad apartment, 39kanals[j] in Islamabad, 530 kanals[k] inKhanewal, and a share in 363 kanals[l] of inherited agricultural land.[329]
In a 2011Financial Times interview, Khan said he bought a penthouse inSouth Kensington in 1983 for £110,000 and sold it in 2003 to buy land in Islamabad.[330]
In 2017, the ECP reported that Khan's 300-kanalBani Gala residence in Islamabad was valued atRs. 750 million (US$2.7 million), with other assets including furniture worthRs. 0.6 million (US$2,100) and livestock.[331] In 2020, the ECP reported that he declared assets worth Rs80.6 million, including a six-kanal plot inMohra Noori (Rs0.5 million) and five inherited plots inMianwali,Bhakkar,Sheikhupura, and Khanewal. He sold property inFerozewala for Rs70 million and bought twoShahrah-e-Dastoor apartments for Rs10.19 million. Khan held Rs50.66 million in a bank account, Rs10.99 million in cash, and four foreign currency accounts with £518, $328,760, $1,470, and an empty euro account. He also declared four goats worth Rs200,000.[332]
In his 2024 election nomination papers, Khan declared over Rs90 million in bank accounts, more than $300,000 in a foreign currency account, and over a dozen properties, mostly inherited, including agricultural land and his Zaman Park residence. He paid Rs11.97 million for aShahrah-e-Dastoor apartment and declared Rs11.47 million for his Bani Gala residence. He reported owning no vehicle.[333]
Taxes
The News International reported that Khan paid nearly Rs4.7 million in taxes between 1981 and 2017, with exemptions in several years.[334] In January 2022, the Federal Board of Revenue's 2019 tax directory said that he paid Rs9.8 million in taxes that year.[335] In 2022, his income rose to Rs185.68 million due to the sale of a watch gifted by a foreign dignitary; the year before, it was just over Rs7 million.[333] For the fiscal year ending 30 June 2023, he paid Rs15.59 million in taxes, and his total declared assets were Rs315.95 million.[336]
In November 1999, Khan condemned the UN for failing to halt Russian "atrocities" in Chechnya.[337]
After the2003 invasion of Iraq began, Khan participated in aprotest in Hyde Park, London, saying: "The fear is that this is not going to be the last war; first it was Afghanistan, now it's Iraq, and if the hawks in Washington have their way, then it's going to be some other country very soon."[338]
A January 2010leaked US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks revealed that US Ambassador to PakistanAnne W. Patterson met Khan at his residence, where he criticised the US for its "dangerous" policies, including drone operations.[339]
In 2011, Khan became the first Pakistani dignitary to demand an official apology from the Government of Pakistan to the people ofBangladesh for the Pakistan Army's atrocities during theBangladesh Liberation War in 1971. He said he had initially supported the operation due to Pakistan's lack of independent media but later learned the truth from Bengali friends in England, adding that Pakistan must learn from past mistakes and not repeat them inBalochistan or thetribal areas.[340]
Prime Minister Khan's message on the 25th Memorial Day of theSrebrenica Genocide, 2020
In 2013, Khan proposed secret talks between India and Pakistan to resolve theKashmir issue, saying open negotiations risk being subverted by vested interests on both sides.[344]
In 2014, when the Pakistani Taliban announced armed struggle againstIsmailis and theKalash people, Khan described "forced conversions as un-Islamic."[345] He also condemned the "forced conversion" ofHindu girls in Sindh.[346]
Public image
In the 1970s and 1980s, Khan attracted media attention for his physical appearance.[347] In the 1980s, he sported a "playboy" image in the British press for his exploits on the London party circuit, though he said he never consumedliquor.[98] In the early 1990s, the British media called him the Sexiest Man Alive.[348] He was known to millions of cricket fans as theLion of Lahore.[349]
In 1996,The Wall Street Journal said he used populist rhetoric, blending anti-elite messages with religious appeals. His criticism of Westernised Pakistani elites contrasted with his privileged upbringing and western "jet-setter" lifestyle.[350] He said of his past: "I have never claimed to be an angel. I am a humble sinner."[81] In a 2006 interview,Peter Lloyd described his transformation as a "playboy to puritan U-turn," leaving many scratching their heads in wonder.[351] In 2007,Der Spiegel compared him toFranz Beckenbauer for his popularity and influence in Pakistan.[352] In 2018,Reuters described him as a Pakistani cricket icon and former London playboy who had "transformed himself into a pious, firebrandnationalist".[353]
Imran Khan signs autographs for supporters, 2009
In June 2011, aPew Research Center poll showed him with a 68% approval rating, higher than Prime MinisterYousaf Raza Gillani's 37% and PresidentAsif Ali Zardari's 11%. That year,The Washington Post described him as an underdog, saying he "often sounds like a pro-democracy liberal but is well known for his coziness with conservative Islamist parties."H. M. Naqvi called him a "sort of aRon Paul figure," noting "there is no taint of corruption and there is his anti-establishment message."[354]
His perceived sympathy for theTaliban and criticism of the US-ledwar on terror led critics to label him "Taliban Khan." He said, "I've been called Taliban Khan for supporting the tribal Pashtuns and I've been called part of a Jewish conspiracy to take over Pakistan. I am of course neither."[355]
In 2012,Pankaj Mishra, writing forThe New York Times, characterised him as a "cogent picture out of his—and Pakistan's—clashing identities," adding that "his identification with the suffering masses and his attacks on his affluent, English-speaking peers have long been mocked in the living rooms of Lahore and Karachi as the hypocritical ravings of 'Im the Dim' and 'Taliban Khan'—the two favouredmonikers for him." Mishra concluded, "like all populist politicians, he appears to offer something to everyone. Yet the great differences between his constituencies—socially liberal, upper-middle-class Pakistanis and the deeply conservative residents of Pakistan's tribal areas—seem irreconcilable."[356]
After the 2013 election,Mohammed Hanif, writing forThe Guardian, said that he had support among the educated middle class, but Pakistan's main problem was that it did not have enough educated urban middle-class citizens.[357]
Khan addressing an Interfaith Christmas Dinner in 2014
An August 2018Gallup Pakistan survey found 52% of Pakistanis believed his tenure as Prime Minister would be better than the previous government.[358][359] In a 2019International Republican Institute poll, 40% of respondents rated his performance "good" and 17% "very good."[360] A 2021Ipsos Pakistan survey found 55% of respondents saidImran Khan government was worse than they expected.[361] In a 2022 Gallup Pakistan poll, 48% of respondents had a negative view of his performance, while 36% held a favourable opinion.[362] Another Gallup Pakistan survey, conducted after hisvote-of-no confidence, found 57% of respondents were happy about his removal from office, while 43% were angry.[363] A February 2023 Gallup Pakistan survey, conducted after the end of his premiership, found that 61% of Pakistanis held a good opinion of him.[364]
According to a January 2024Bloomberg survey of 12 Pakistani financial professionals, Khan was the "top pick" to run the country's economy.[366]
Khan has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize. He was nominated in 2019 for his endeavours to foster peace across South Asia. In 2025, he was nominated by the Norwegian political partyPartiet Sentrum and the advocacy organisation Pakistan World Alliance for his contributions to human rights and democratic values.[367]
Relationship with the military
Several news reports and scholarly works have described his political career as marked by a perceived closeness toPakistan's military establishment. According to Christopher Clary, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the State University of New York-Albany, he entered politics in the mid-1990s in open alliance with formerInter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chiefHamid Gul.[368] In 2012, authorFatima Bhutto criticised him for "incredible coziness not with the military but with dictatorship," accusing him of defendingGeneral Zia-ul-Haq's legacy and mentioning his support forPervez Musharraf's 2002 referendum.[369]
He was also close to former ISI chiefAhmed Shuja Pasha. Clary said that during the2014 Tsunami March and sit-in, there were widespread allegations of involvement by then ISI chiefZaheer-ul-Islam.[368] Historian Ian Talbot wrote that his role in the 2014 protests was contentious. Talbot stated that he "denied that he was a military cat's paw", which he said conflicted with former PTI presidentJaved Hashmi's claim that the protests were inspired by Pasha. Talbot said that his actions, "if not sinister, were reckless", threatening hopes of rebalancing civil–military relations in Pakistan.[370][371] He stated that these actions strengthened military authority over civilian power,[370] and that "the army rather than the democratic forces had clearly emerged as a winner in the political crisis that some believed it had secretly orchestrated".[371]
According to Mohammad Waseem, Professor of Political Science at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, his populist rise was enabled by the military establishment, which sought to counter thePPP andPML (N). Waseem said he was cultivated by the establishment as an alternative force, with thePTI functioning as a "shadow" Muslim League to attract electables before the2018 election. Waseem said that he appealed to middle-class demands to end dynastic politics and came to power not through mass mobilisation, but military support. He added that he was portrayed at home and abroad as the military's preferred candidate, fuelling opposition claims that he was "selected" rather than elected.[372]
US diplomat Theodore Craig, inPakistan and American Diplomacy, wrote that after the 2018 elections the United States avoided pushing for an "unblemished election" or rejecting "antidemocratic manipulations", saying that challenging "the military'sImran Khan project" would not have changed the government but could have jeopardised prospects for progress in Afghanistan.[373]
In 2024,The New York Times wrote that Lt. Gen.Faiz Hameed, a former ISI chief, was an ally of his.[374] In 2024,Arab News wrote that Khan was widely believed to have risen to power in 2018 with military backing.[375]Arab News said that after his 2022 ouster, Hameed was widely believed to have advised him as PTI openly criticised the army and its senior leadership. Since then, Khan has campaigned against the military, blaming it for failing to stop the no-confidence motion that removed him.[375]
Ashok Swain, Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, Sweden, wrote that his challenges and accusations against the military are unique in Pakistan's history. Swain said he became the military's strongest critic, with potential to reform its historically unchecked power. His approach has divided allies and the military but, according to Swain, "mobilised a new generation of politically aware Pakistanis, including women and youth who previously shunned politics".[376]
In a 2025 book, author Dinkar Prakash Srivastava wrote that Khan enjoyed military patronage and "colluded" with it against Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif. He wrote that the army "paved the way" for his 2018 election victory by easing out Sharif's government before the end of its term. Khan's relations with the military began to deteriorate in 2021 over the appointment of the ISI chief. After his ouster in 2022, Khan blamed army chief GeneralQamar Javed Bajwa and criticised the military leadership, including GeneralAsim Munir and theISPR. Srivastava wrote that if Khan sought to divide the top military leadership, it "backfired spectacularly" as the army "does not tolerate interference" in its internal affairs, and that Khan "found himself accidentally thrust into the role of an anti-establishment hero", despite owing his political career to military patronage.[377]
In December 2025,Mohammed Hanif wrote that early in his political career, Khan found out that "the road to power in Pakistan always passed through the army headquarters," and they helped him rise by sidelining his opponents. After falling out with them, his name and image were suppressed on television, and his access to family and lawyers was restricted.[378]
During his cricketing days, he appeared in commercials for Pepsi Pakistan,Brooke Bond tea,Thums Up, and the Indian soap Cinthol.[379]Dev Anand offered him a role in his 1990Bollywood sports action-thrillerAwwal Number as a declining cricket star, but he refused, citing his lack of acting skills.[380] In 2014, Canadian rock bandNickelback released the politically themed single "Edge of a Revolution", featuring a brief clip of a PTI rally with party flags and a poster of him.[381]
Chacha Nooruddin, known asCaptain Chappal,[382] gifted a pair of specially craftedPeshawari chappals to him for his 2015 wedding. The double-soled design had existed for years,[383] but the traditional Peshawari chappal became iconic as his preferred footwear.[384]
In the late 1980s, Khan served as editor ofThe Cricketer, a London-based cricket magazine.[387] Khan has written opinion pieces forOutlook,[388]The Guardian,[389] and theBBC.[390] Khan's 2011 autobiography,Pakistan: A Personal History, covers his move from cricket into politics and discusses his philanthropic work.[391] In 2021, Khan penned aCNN op-ed advocating conservation and restoration of damaged natural ecosystems.[392]
^Some sources state he was born on 25 November 1952,[9] Khan has said that this mistake stemmed from that date being written erroneously on his passport.[10]
^"Imran Khan".Dawn. 13 January 2012.Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved22 September 2016.
^"Imran Khan celebrates his 70th birthday".Bol News. 5 October 2022.Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved5 June 2023.'My actual birthday date is October 5. It was mistakenly written as November 25th on my passport,' the former prime minister said on the occasion.
^Rafique, Muhammad (6 January 1983)."A tale of two Niazis — one revered, the other reviled".The Sydney Morning Herald.Sydney. Retrieved21 March 2025.Two Niazis are filling the columns of the Pakistani newspapers and periodicals and both belong to the well-known Pathan tribe of the same name. One is worshipped and the other reviled. Both are tall, handome and for one of them, the journalists have run out of superlatives. His name is Imran Khan Niazi although he seldom uses his tribal title.
^Ahmed, Akbar (12 September 1990)."Mighty lion river".The Independent.London. Retrieved21 March 2025.His father is of the Niazi tribe and his mother a Burki, both dominant groups. Living in a patriarchal society, Imran only emphasises his father's lineage.
^Christopher Sandford (6 August 2009).Imran Khan: The Cricketer, The Celebrity, The Politician. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 68–.ISBN978-0-00-734104-7.Imran had, meanwhile, left Aitchison College, whose vaunted enthusiasm for sports seems not to have extended to sharing one of their own with a professional cricket team. He spent his sixth-form year at the nearby Cathedral School.
^Hutchins & Midgley (2015) "White had begun her affair with Imran in 1986, shortly after he had finished with Emma Sergeant. Their relationship ended after two years when he wrote her a note saying, 'I cannot love you as Emma will always be the love of mv life. But White became pregnant when they slept together for one last time in 1991 and she gave birth to a daughter, Tyrian."
^Morgan (2012) "We'd heard from our usual inside source that the Sunday Mirror were breaking a story about Imran Khan fathering a lovechild by Sita White, daughter of the business tycoon Lord White. The picture desk sent a photographer straight to her home in Los Angeles, and when she opened the door he was able to take one quick shot inside. On closer examination of his picture he spotted a framed photo on the table in her hallway – with Sita and the lovechild who bears a striking resemblance to his father."
^Ayesha Gulalai submits response to defamation suit (Online video).Lahore News. 8 February 2017. Retrieved21 December 2025.Newscaster: 'A hearing was held in the defamation suit filed over allegations made by Ayesha Gulalai against Imran Khan. A power of attorney was submitted in court on behalf of Ayesha Gulalai. Details from Arshad Ali. Yes, Arshad Ali, what are the details?'....Arshad Ali: 'Yes, Naveed. Ayesha Gulalai's counsel submitted a power of attorney before the sessions judge. The counsel appeared before the judge and sought more time to file a response. The judge accepted the request and adjourned the hearing until 28 October. The defamation suit was filed by the Tehreek-e-Insaf leader, claiming that Ayesha Gulalai made false statements. The court has been requested to impose a fine of Rs 10 billion on Ayesha Gulalai.'
^Oborne (2015, pp. 298–310) "At this stage, the Burki family connection came to the rescue....."One of the participants suggested a form of treatment which was still at an experimental stage, whereby the healing process was hastened by means of electrical cycles passed through the leg." The treatment was very expensive, and needed doing in London, but General Zia guaranteed that the government would supply the money. So in the spring of 1984, Imran travelled to the Cromwell Hospital in London for a six-month course of treatment, during which his leg was put in a cast. Neither he, nor anyone else, knew whether he would play cricket again...."I had the choice of continuing as captain following that series, but decided against it. I did so because Imran didn't give me his full co-operation in that [Sri Lanka] series, and it was a great disappointment to me.""
^"PTI concedes defeat in Pakistan elections".The Express Tribune. 12 May 2013.Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved12 May 2013.Pakistani politician and cricket star Imran Khan early on Sunday conceded defeat to the rival Pakistan Muslim League-N in historic general elections senior party leader Asad Umar said.
^"Pakistani protesters force state TV station off air". 1 September 2014.Many demonstrators, who appeared mostly to be members of Qadri's Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), brandished sticks while some seized weapons from security staff.
^"Pakistan starts legal process for ex-PM Sharif's extradition".The Independent. 18 December 2020. Retrieved18 November 2024.Pakistan's information minister said Friday that Islamabad has started the legal process to reach an extradition treaty with Britain that would pave the way for the U.K. to hand over former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. ... Khan has said he wants Sharif brought back to Pakistan for trial.
^"Protests in Pakistan over Khan's removal, Sharif set to be new PM".www.aljazeera.com. 11 April 2022.Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved14 April 2022.Khan has claimed the US worked behind the scenes to bring him down, purportedly because of Washington's displeasure over his independent foreign policy choices, which often favour China and Russia.
^Shah, Saeed (3 November 2022)."Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Shot in Leg at Protest Rally".The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved3 November 2022.Mr. Khan was hit in the leg and taken to a hospital in Lahore, where doctors said he was stable and he was operated on.....Pakistani officials said the attacker was apprehended... He said that he acted alone and that he had planned the attack for days.
^"A lion tamed".The Irish Times. 17 February 2007. Retrieved27 August 2025.To the dismay of millions of fans who knew him as the Lion of Lahore, he retired from cricket after captaining Pakistan to its 1992 World Cup victory.
^Waldman, Peter (2 December 1996)."Imran Khan Bowls Them Over With Populist Pakistani Pitch".The Wall Street Journal.ISSN0099-9660.Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved16 January 2017.Imran's rough-hewn message combines populist economics...Imran is a born-again Muslim who now scolds other Pakistani elites for aping the West....The Oxford-educated jet-setter is a born-again Muslim who now scolds other Pakistani elites for aping the West.
^abImran, Kashif (17 August 2024)."Former ISI chief Hameed was part of 'political nexus' led by ex-PM Khan to destabilize Pakistan —minister".Arab News. Retrieved24 April 2025.Hameed is believed to be advising Khan when he was publicly criticizing the army and its leadership following his ouster.....The former ISI chief is widely seen as having been close to Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 on a slew of charges....Khan, widely believed to have been propelled to power with the backing of the military in 2018, waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the military establishment following his ouster in a parliamentary no-trust vote in 2022. The former prime minister blames the army for not preventing the no-confidence motion against him....It is widely believed that Hameed was advising Khan when the PTI was publicly criticizing the army and its top leadership.
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