Imran Khan

Khan was born in Lahore on 5 October 1952.^[5] Though some sources state he was born on 25 November 1952,^[6] Khan has said that this mistake stemmed from that date being written erroneously on his passport.^[7] He is the only son of Ikramullah Khan Niazi, a civil engineer, and his wife, Shaukat Khanum, and has four sisters.^[8]

Khan is of Pathan origin belonging to the Niazi tribe from his paternal family,^[9][10] and says that one of his ancestors was Haibat Khan Niazi, a leading general of Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century and the governor of Punjab.^[11] Khan's maternal family belongs to the Burki community,^[12] and has produced a number of cricketers, including those who have represented Pakistan,^[8] such as his cousins Javed Burki and Majid Khan.^[13] Khan's maternal family lived near Jalandhar, for centuries before migrating to Pakistan after the Independence in 1947.^[14][15]

He studied at Aitchison College and Cathedral School in Lahore.^[16][17] In 2021, Khan revealed that he had played for the Colts Hockey team in the mid-1960s.^[18] Khan arrived at the Royal Grammar School Worcester in England in September 1971, where he excelled at cricket.^[19][20] During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Khan took a part-time job at a store in England to support himself while studying. He worked during the Christmas season, washing dishes and cutting cheese. "It was my first and only job," he said, adding that it ended after ten days due to an argument with someone there.^[21]

In 1972, after being turned down by Cambridge University,^[22] Khan was admitted to Keble College, Oxford, where he studied philosophy, politics and economics, graduating in 1975.^[23] Paul Hayes, a keen cricket enthusiast, played a role in facilitating his entry.^[22]

During the 1980s, Khan was inspired by the writings of the poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal, the Iranian writer-sociologist Ali Shariati, and the British diplomat-convert Charles Le Gai Eaton. He found their works intellectually stimulating and influential in deepening his understanding of Islam, particularly its potential for creating a just society and its compatibility with Western identity.^[24]

Khan had numerous relationships during his bachelor life.^[25] He was then known as a hedonistic bachelor and a playboy who was active in London's nightlife, frequently visiting venues such as Tramp in St James's.^[26][27] One or two of his girlfriends were called "mysterious blondes" in British tabloids. During the 1980s and 1990s, Khan was regarded as one of the most eligible bachelors.^[28]

His first girlfriend, Emma Sergeant, an artist and the daughter of British investor Sir Patrick Sergeant, introduced him to socialites. The Times states that Emma was the "one woman he truly loved before his first marriage".^[28] They first met in 1982 and subsequently visited Pakistan. She accompanied him everywhere, including a hunting trip to Peshawar and a cricket tour to Australia.^[29] She painted a portrait of Khan during their relationship at his request.^[30] Khan's residence in Chelsea, near Sergeant's studio and Tramp nightclub, became a central location for his social activities. After long separations, his relationship with Sergeant ended in 1986.^[28]

Jonathan Orders introduced Khan to Susie Murray-Philipson, whom Khan later invited to Pakistan and had dinner with in 1982. However, their relationship did not progress, as Philipson felt out of place in Pakistan and found their cultural differences irreconcilable. He also had a brief relationship with Susannah Constantine, whom he met through Lulu Blacker. Their relationship lasted for about a year without leading to marriage. Additionally, Julia Verdin and Doone Murray were among the women associated with Khan during this period, with their relationships receiving media attention.^[28]

Some of the other women with whom he was associated during this period include Zeenat Aman,^[31] Sarah Crawley, Marie Helvin,^[28] Stephanie Beacham, Caroline Kellett, Liza Campbell, Goldie Hawn, Sarah Giles,^[32] Anastasia Cooke, and Hannah Rothschild. These relationships did not result in permanence, as Khan made it clear that residing in Pakistan was a requirement for a serious, long-term commitment.^[29]

Ana-Luisa White, daughter of British industrialist Gordon White, who later adopted the name Sita, began her relationship with Khan in 1986, shortly after his relationship with Emma Sergeant ended. The relationship lasted for two years, ending when Khan reportedly wrote White a note stating that he could not love her as Emma would always be the love of his life. Despite the breakup, White became pregnant after a final encounter in 1991 and gave birth to a daughter, Tyrian Jade,^[33][34] in June 1992. White later claimed Khan was the father and continued to keep a framed photograph of him after their split.^[29] Tyrian became the subject of a legal dispute in 1997 when a California court ruled Khan to be her father after White filed a paternity suit. The court issued the ruling after Khan failed to respond to the suit and a request for a blood test.^[35] Khan denied paternity and called for a paternity test in Pakistan, stating that he would accept the decision of the courts of Pakistan.^[36] After White's death in 2004, Jemima, Khan's wife at the time and a friend of Sita, was designated by Sita as the legal guardian of Tyrian in her will. Khan stated that Tyrian would be welcome to join their family in London, leaving the decision entirely up to her, given her established relationship with his and Jemima's sons.^[37]

In August 1992, Khan began dating Kristiane Backer, a German-born MTV host. Their relationship lasted for nearly two years, during which he introduced her to Islam. After their relationship ended, she converted to Islam following a meeting with Khan in 1995.^[38]

Khan and Jemima Goldsmith confirmed their engagement on 12 May 1995. The couple announced that they were to marry, with Khan stating that Jemima had 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.^[39] On 16 May 1995, the couple got married in a brief two-minute Islamic ceremony in Paris. Later, on 21 June, they had another wedding in a civil ceremony at the Richmond register office before embarking on their new life in Lahore. The couple had two sons, Sulaiman Isa and Kasim.^[40] On 22 June 2004, it was announced that the couple had divorced, ending their nine-year marriage as it was "difficult for Jemima to adapt to life in Pakistan."^[41]

In a 2009 book, Christopher Sandford wrote that Khan and Benazir Bhutto had a close relationship when they were both students at Oxford. He wrote that Bhutto, at the age of 21, became close to Khan in 1975. They remained in a relationship for about two months. Sandford wrote that Khan's mother had attempted to arrange a marriage between them, though this was unsuccessful. He also suggested that their relationship was possibly sexual, but Khan said that they were only friends.^[42]

On 8 January 2015, it was announced that Khan had married British-Pakistani journalist Reham Khan in a private Nikah ceremony at his residence in Islamabad.^[43] On 22 October 2015, they announced their intention to file for divorce.^[44]

In 2016, media speculations emerged regarding Khan's possible third marriage, particularly in connection with his spiritual association with the Maneka family of Pakpattan. Reports suggested that Khan had visited Pakpattan multiple times in July 2016, allegedly to meet Maryam Riaz Wattoo, the sister of his spiritual guide, Bushra Bibi. However, these reports were later refuted by Khan and his party. Khan said that the reports about his third marriage were "absolutely baseless" and that when he does decide to marry, he would make an official announcement and celebrate publicly.^[45] Members of the Manika family also denied the rumour.^[46] Khan said the media was "unethical" for spreading the rumour,^[47] and PTI filed a complaint against the news channels that had aired it.^[48]

In 2017, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Ayesha Gulalai alleged that she had been sexually harassed by Khan, who was the party chairman.^[49] Gulalai said that Khan had sent her "inappropriate text messages",^[50] beginning in 2013.^[51][52] Khan supported Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's proposal to form a special committee to investigate the harassment claims made by Gulalai. 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".^[53] Khan refused to comply with a bipartisan committee set up to investigate Gulalai's allegations and filed a defamation suit against her. In the end, no enquiry was made into Gulalai's allegations and Gulalai did not publicly release the alleged messages sent to her by him.^[51]

On 7 January 2018, the PTI central secretariat issued a statement confirming that Khan had proposed to Bushra, but she had yet to accept his proposal.^[54] On 18 February 2018, PTI confirmed that Khan had married Bushra.^[55] According to Khan, his life has been influenced by Sufism for three decades, which is what drew him closer to his wife.^[56] The Mufti who conducted the marriage later testified in court that Khan's nikah had been conducted twice. The first nikah was performed on 1 January 2018, while his to-be wife was reportedly still in her Iddat. The Mufti alleged Khan believed he would become prime minister if he married her on that date.^[57]

As of 2018, Khan owned five pet dogs, with one named Motu residing at his estate in Bani Gala.^[58]

Khan made his first-class debut at the age of 16 in Lahore. By the early 1970s, he was playing for his hometown teams, including Lahore A,^[b] Lahore B,^[c] Lahore Greens,^[d] and eventually Lahore.^[e][59] He was also a part of the University of Oxford's Blues Cricket team during the 1973–1975 seasons.^[23] Between 1971 and 1976, Khan played English county cricket for Worcestershire. During this period, he also represented Dawood Industries^[f] and Pakistan International Airlines.^[g] From 1983 to 1988, he played for Sussex.^[59]

Khan made his Test cricket debut against England in June 1971 at Edgbaston.^[60] Three years later, in August 1974, he played his first One Day International (ODI) match, again against England, at Trent Bridge for the Prudential Trophy.^[61]

In both 1976 and 1980, Khan was awarded the Cricket Society Wetherell Award for Leading All-Rounder in English First-Class Cricket.^[62] By 1977, Khan was included in the roster of Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket.^[63]

As a bowler, Khan learned reverse swing from Sarfraz Nawaz, who is regarded as the founder of that technique. Khan later passed on this skill to Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, who mastered and popularised it.^[64][65] From January 1980 to 1988, Khan took 236 Test wickets at an average of 17.77, with 18 five-wicket hauls and five 10-wicket hauls. His bowling average and strike rate were better than those of Richard Hadlee (19.03), Malcolm Marshall (20.20), Dennis Lillee (24.07), Joel Garner (20.62), and Michael Holding (23.68).^[66] Khan was the highest wicket-taker in Test matches in the calendar year 1982.^[67] He recorded the best Test bowling figures of his career by taking 8 wickets for 58 runs against Sri Lanka in 1981–82.^[68]

In 1982, Khan took over the captaincy of the Pakistan national cricket team.^[69] Under Khan's captaincy, Pakistan achieved their first Test win on English soil after 28 years at Lord's in 1982.^[70] In 1983, he was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year.^[71] During Pakistan's 1982–83 home series against India, he took 40 wickets at an average of 13.95.^[72] In January 1983, he became the second cricketer, after Ian Botham, to score a century and take 10 wickets in a Test match during the series.^[73] The following month, during the same series, he attained a Test bowling rating of 922 points,^[h] placing him third in the ICC's all-time Test bowling rankings.^[74] Khan became the first Pakistani bowler to take 200 Test wickets, while the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack said that he "bowled with such venom and fire that no Indian batsman other than Mohinder Amarnath faced him with any confidence."^[75] However, the series also led to a stress fracture in his left shin, sidelining him for over two years. Initially, he could still bat but could not bowl, but after further complications, he was completely unable to participate in cricket. An experimental treatment, funded by the Pakistani government and administered in London, helped him recover by the end of 1984. Khan returned to the national team under the captaincy of Javed Miandad in a home series against Sri Lanka in 1984–85. After the series, Miandad chose not to continue as captain because, he said, Khan had not given him full co-operation. Khan was appointed captain again.^[76]

Khan was the mastermind behind reforming cricket umpiring, driven by his frustration over the constant criticism of Pakistani officials after every series in Pakistan.^[77] Writing for The Guardian, Mike Selvey highlighted that "such was his power" that in 1986, Khan invited Indian umpires VK Ramaswamy and Piloo Reporter to officiate a Test against West Indies, marking the first step in an initiative by the International Cricket Council towards independent umpiring. He further advanced the idea by bringing in England's John Hampshire and John Holder for the home series against India in 1989–90. This effort helped counter long-standing accusations against home umpiring, ultimately leading to the 1994 rule requiring one neutral umpire in Tests and the 2002 mandate for both umpires to be independent.^[78]

In 1987, in India, Khan led Pakistan to its first-ever Test series win, which was followed by Pakistan's first series victory in England during the same year.^[70] Khan retired from international cricket at the end of the 1987 Cricket World Cup.^[79] He was asked to return to the captaincy by the President of Pakistan, General Zia-ul-Haq and decided to rejoin the team.^[80] Soon after returning to the captaincy, Khan led Pakistan on another successful tour of the West Indies, which he recounted as "the last time I really bowled well."^[13] He was declared the Man of the Series against the West Indies in 1988 after taking 23 wickets in three Tests.^[81][82]

He became the first Asian cricketer and the eighth non-Australian player to win the International Cricketer of the Year award in 1989. He received a Rover 827 Vitesse worth A$72,000. According to Khan, Australia's highly nationalistic press heavily criticised his selection, making him feel as if he had "committed a crime by winning the car." The following day, he arrived for the toss with Allan Border at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the first match of the best-of-three finals, wearing a T-shirt that read, "I'm sorry I won the car." He later told interviewer Ian Chappell that the proceeds from the car would go to his Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital.^[83]

As captain, Khan led Pakistan in 48 Test matches, winning 14, losing 8, and drawing the remaining 26. He also captained in 139 ODIs, securing 75 victories, suffering 59 defeats, and ending one in a tie.^[69] In Test cricket, he holds the world record for the most wickets as a captain, the second-best bowling figures in an innings (8 wickets for 60 runs), the most five-wicket hauls in an innings (12), and the most ten-wicket hauls in a match (4).^[84] Khan has been compared to Franz Beckenbauer in terms of his popularity and influence in Pakistan.^[85]

Khan's career high as a cricketer and captain came when he led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup. During the tournament, especially in the final, he promoted himself in the batting order.^[87] Khan topped the scoring in the final with 72 runs.^[88] In the field, Khan brought back Wasim Akram in the 35th over after Allan Lamb and Neil Fairbrother had established a partnership of 72 runs. Akram delivered two decisive blows to England by dismissing Lamb and Chris Lewis.^[89] Khan took the winning final wicket himself.^[88] This was Pakistan's first world cup victory.^[89] After the victory, Khan 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]

He played his last Test match for Pakistan in January 1992, against Sri Lanka. Khan retired from international cricket after leading Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup Final.^[68]

He ended his career with 88 Test matches, 126 innings, and scored 3,807 runs at an average of 37.69, including six centuries and 18 fifties. His highest score was 136.^[68] Khan had the second-highest all-time batting average of 61.86 for a Test batsman playing at number six in the batting order.^[91] As a bowler, he took 362 wickets in Test cricket.^[68] He has won the most Player of the Series awards in Test cricket for Pakistan, and ranks fourth overall in Test history.^[92] In ODIs, he played 175 matches and scored 3,709 runs at an average of 33.41. His highest score was 102 not out.^[68] His best ODI bowling was 6 for 14, a record for the best bowling figures by any bowler in an ODI innings in a losing cause.^[93] Khan achieved the all-rounder's triple (securing 3,000 runs and 300 wickets) in 75 Tests,^[94] becoming one of the first four players to reach this milestone. As of 2025, he is one of eleven players to have achieved this feat,^[95] and his 75-Test achievement remains the third-fastest in history.^[94]

After retiring, Khan admitted to ball tampering during county cricket, stating that he "occasionally scratched the side of the ball and lifted the seam." He defended his actions, stating that such conduct was commonplace at the time.^[96] Khan announced his return as a domestic league coach in May 2003. Reflecting on his return, Imran remarked, "After Pakistan's disappointing performance in the World Cup, a lot of my friends asked me to help Pakistan cricket and despite my commitments in politics I have agreed to help with coaching," during the launch of regional cricket clinics. He added, "I want to pay back what this country has given me."^[97]

Khan has written opinion pieces in the Indian magazine Outlook,^[98] The Guardian,^[99] and the BBC.^[100] Khan occasionally appeared as a cricket commentator on the Star TV network.^[101] In 2004, when the Indian cricket team toured Pakistan, Khan appeared as a commentator on TEN Sports' special live show, Straight Drive.^[102]

On 23 November 2005, Khan was appointed as the Chancellor of the University of Bradford.^[103] In 2009, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.^[104] On 26 February 2014, the University of Bradford Union floated a no-confidence motion to remove Khan from the post due to his absence from every graduation ceremony since 2010.^[105] On 30 November 2014, Khan stepped down, citing his "increasing political commitments". Khan was essentially compelled to resign due to pressure from the union. Bradford University's Vice-Chancellor, Brian Cantor, appealed to students to show sympathy.^[106] He said Khan had been "a wonderful role model for our students."^[107]

Khan served as UNICEF's Special Representative for Sports and promoted health and immunisation programmes in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.^[108][109] In 1994, Khan established Pakistan's first cancer hospital, the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, named after his mother,^[110] who had previously succumbed to cancer.^[111] Khan raised the funds by touring the country and appealing for contributions, with the majority of donations coming from the poor.^[110] Khan wanted the hospital to treat the poor free of charge, and as of 2024, it treats 70 percent of its patients for free.^[111]

As a result of the 2001 Islamabad cloud burst, Pakistan faced severe flooding. In response, Khan auctioned his signed cricket bat from the 1992 Cricket World Cup and the sweater he wore while playing cricket. The bat alone raised $20,000 for flood victims. Khan stated that these were the last two items he had left, as he had previously auctioned off the rest to support Shaukat Khanum Hospital.^[112]

In December 2005, Khan, then Chancellor of the University of Bradford, signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Bradford, establishing Namal College in Mianwali as its associate college. The college was planned to be built by the Mianwali Development Trust on land donated by locals and aimed to tackle unemployment by providing technical and vocational education.^[113] In July 2006, Khan announced his vision behind Namal College, saying, "I want to make young people employable by arming them with the skills they will need to get jobs."^[114] Namal College officially opened in 2008.^[115]

According to a 2006 report, while visiting his children in London, he also worked with the Lord's Taverners, a cricket charity.^[110]

Khan established The Imran Khan Foundation (IKF) in February 2006.^[116] In January 2013, IKF announced a Rs30 million emergency relief project for internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees of the war on terror, belonging to the Mehsud tribe of North Waziristan who were neglected by the government. The project provided food supplies, winter essentials, and waterproof tents to 2,600 families in Tank, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.^[117]

Khan was offered political positions several times during his cricketing career. In 1987, then-President Zia-ul-Haq offered him a position in the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), which he politely declined.^[16] Nawaz Sharif invited Khan to join his political party, offering him the position of second-in-command and guaranteeing 30 seats in the national parliament. Khan declined the offer.^[118] In 1993, Khan was appointed as the ambassador for tourism in the caretaker government of Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi and held the portfolio for three months until the government was dissolved. In late 1994, Khan joined hands with former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Hamid Gul and Muhammad Ali Durrani, who was heading Pasban, a breakaway wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. The three planned to launch a "pressure group," which was intended to act as a civil society watchdog rather than a full-fledged political party. Khan soon became uncomfortable with the idea of being seen as a puppet of Gul, which led to his departure from the group.^[16]

In 1995, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, fearing a potential military coup that could appoint Khan as Prime Minister, responded with marked hostility towards him. The state-run television refused to broadcast archival footage of Imran's cricketing heyday and banned fundraising advertisements for his Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital during Ramadan, a month when Muslims traditionally give to charity. Authorities also spread rumours that Khan was suspected of embezzling hospital funds and was being investigated for tax irregularities. As a result, donations to the hospital, which relied entirely on charitable contributions, were halved that year.^[119]

On 25 April 1996, Khan founded a political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).^[120] He ran for a seat in the National Assembly of Pakistan in the 1997 Pakistani general election as a candidate of PTI from two constituencies – NA-53 Mianwali and NA-94 Lahore – but was unsuccessful and lost both seats to candidates of PML-N.^[121]

Khan supported General Musharraf's 1999 Pakistani coup d'état,^[122] believing that Musharraf would "end corruption and clear out the political mafias."^[123] Khan's PTI was one of the parties that supported Pervez Musharraf in the 2002 Pakistani referendum.^[124] According to Khan, he was Musharraf's choice for Prime Minister in 2002, but he turned down the offer.^[13] Khan participated in the 2002 Pakistani general election and said that if his party did not get a majority of the vote, they would consider forming a coalition.^[125] He was the only member of his party to win a seat in that election.^[126]

On 6 May 2005, Khan was described by Hendrik Hertzberg as the "most directly responsible" for drawing attention in the Muslim world to the Newsweek story concerning the alleged desecration of the Qur'an at a US military prison in Guantánamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba.^[127]

In August 2005, Declan Walsh described Khan as a "miserable politician", observing that "Khan's ideas and affiliations since entering politics in 1996 have swerved and skidded like a rickshaw in a rainshower... He preaches democracy one day but gives a vote to reactionary mullahs the next."^[128]

In March 2006, Khan was escorted by police to his home and placed under house arrest after he threatened to organise a protest against President George W. Bush, who was on a visit to Pakistan.^[129]

On 2 October 2007, as part of the All Parties Democratic Movement, Khan joined 85 other MPs to resign from Parliament in protest of the presidential election scheduled for 6 October, which general Musharraf was contesting without resigning as army chief.^[130] On 3 November 2007, Khan was put under house arrest after president Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan. He later escaped from detention.^[131] He eventually came out of hiding on 14 November to join a student protest at the University of the Punjab.^[132] At the rally, Khan was dragged into a physics building by activists from the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, and was held in a headlock.^[133] He was arrested during the protest and was sent to the Central Jail, Dera Ghazi Khan, where he spent a week before being released.^[134]

On 30 October 2011, Khan addressed more than 100,000 supporters in Lahore, challenging the policies of the government, and referred to his movement as "not a flood that is coming, but a tsunami."^[135] Another public gathering of at least 100,000 supporters was held in Karachi on 25 December 2011.^[136] According to a survey conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) in 2012, Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) topped the list of popular political parties in Pakistan at the national level, securing 31% of the vote. The survey, conducted between 9 February and 8 March 2012, placed PTI ahead of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which received 27%, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which garnered 16%. The survey also highlighted PTI's strong performance, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (49%) and Balochistan (35%), where the party secured the top position, though it stood second in Punjab with 33%.^[137]

On 6 October 2012, Khan joined a vehicle caravan of protesters from Islamabad to the village of Kotai in South Waziristan region to protest against US drone missile strikes.^[138]

On 21 April 2013, Khan launched his election campaign from Lahore, where he addressed thousands of supporters at The Mall.^[139] Khan announced that he would pull Pakistan out of the US-led war on terror and bring peace to the Pashtun tribal belt.^[140] He addressed various public meetings in different cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country, where he announced that PTI would introduce a uniform education system in which the children of both the rich and the poor would have equal opportunities.^[141] Khan concluded his campaign in South Punjab's Seraiki belt by addressing rallies in various cities.^[142]

The last survey before the elections by The Herald showed that 24.98 percent of voters nationally planned to vote for his party, slightly behind Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, which secured 25.1 percent of the vote.^[143] On 7 May, just four days before the elections, Khan was shifted to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore after falling from a lifter while boarding a stage at a rally. He sustained head injuries,^[144] and fractured four vertebrae.^[145] Khan ended the campaign by addressing a rally of supporters in Islamabad via a video link while lying on a bed at a hospital in Lahore.^[146]

The 2013 Pakistani general election was held on 11 May across the country. Nawaz Sharif and his party, the Pakistan Muslim League (N), secured victory in the elections, while Khan alleged vote-rigging.^[147] Khan's party emerged as the leading party in the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.^[148] Khan's party became the second-largest in terms of popular vote nationwide, securing 28 directly elected parliamentary seats, making it the third-largest party in the National Assembly of Pakistan behind the PML-N and the PPP.^[149] The day after the elections, Asad Umar, a leader from his party, announced that Khan had conceded defeat to PML (N).^[150] While Khan's party welcomed the vote, Khan pledged to release a white paper on the alleged vote-rigging and vowed to hold protests. He praised the record voter turnout, particularly the participation of youth and women, describing it as a "step forward for democracy."^[151]

While recovering in hospital, Khan nominated Pervez Khattak to form and lead his party's first provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.^[152]

Khan assumed the role of parliamentary leader of his party in the National Assembly of Pakistan following the 2013 elections.^[153] On 31 July 2013, Khan received a contempt of court notice for allegedly criticising the superior judiciary and referring to it as "shameful."^[154] The notice was discharged after Khan submitted before the Supreme Court of Pakistan that he had criticised the lower judiciary for their actions during the May 2013 general elections, while those judicial officers were working as returning officers.^[155] Khan was criticised for his support of Sami-ul-Haq, known as the "Father of the Taliban," and for providing funds to his seminary, Darul Uloom Haqqania.^[156]

Khan accused the United States of sabotaging peace efforts with the Pakistani Taliban by killing its leader Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike in 2013. He said that he would organise protests and block NATO's supply lines to Afghanistan if the US did not end its drone attacks, which, he said, were "fanning fanaticism."^[157]

A year after the elections, on 11 May 2014, at a rally of his supporters, Khan called for the resignation of all members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the formation of a new ECP, and strict punishment for those who "stole the mandate of the masses."^[158] On 14 August 2014, Khan led a rally of supporters from Lahore to Islamabad, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and an investigation into the alleged electoral fraud.^[159] Khan and Canadian-Pakistani cleric Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri entered into a "de facto" alliance,^[160] both aiming to mobilise their supporters for a regime change campaign against Sharif.^[161]

In 2014, then PTI president, Javed Hashmi, alleged that Khan had been instructed by the army to coordinate his protests with the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), led by Qadri.^[153] Hashmi accused Khan of being "influenced by a 'signal' from outside", which the New York Times described as "an apparent reference to military intervention."^[162] Hashmi resigned from the party presidency in 2014 while suspended for failing to explain allegation he had made against Khan. He said he could not continue membership in a "party 'conspiring' to dismantle democracy in Pakistan."^[163] The Inter-Services Public Relations said it backed neither the PTI nor the PAT. The army acted as mediator between the protesters and the government.^[164] Aqil Shah, visiting professor at Dartmouth College, said in an interview with Deutsche Welle that Hashmi had "confirmed widely held suspicions" that Khan and Qadri were "acting in collaboration with the military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which has encouraged them to follow a slash and burn policy till the government relents."^[165] In 2016, Hashmi claimed Khan had "conspired" with "disgruntled elements in the army".^[163] In the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Pakistan, Aparna Pande, a Research Fellow and Director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at the Hudson Institute, writes that sections of the army played an active role in the protests, with Khan being advised by the then Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Zaheer-ul-Islam, and the ISI drafted Qadri to lead the protests.^[166]

Khan urged his supporters to burn electricity bills, refuse to pay taxes, and take part in widespread civil disobedience. Protesters from Khan's PTI forced their way into the state-run television channel PTV's studios in Islamabad, creating chaos. They assaulted PTV staff and journalists, and engaged in acts of hooliganism.^[167] On 1 September, protesters led by Qadri and Khan attempted to storm Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's official residence, prompting the outbreak of violence. Three people were killed, and more than 595 people were injured, including 115 police officers.^[168]

Following the 2014 Peshawar school massacre, Khan called off his 126-day sit-in in the interest of national unity on 17 December.^[169]

In March 2015, Khan's party reached an agreement with the Sharif administration to form a judicial commission to probe electoral fraud allegations — a move facilitated by the then Army Chief, General Raheel Sharif.^[170] In July, the commission determined that the elections had been broadly fair and found no systemic rigging.^[171] Khan accepted the commission's findings but expressed reservations over not having received a copy. "We have not seen the report yet, if we had, I would have been in a better position to comment on the report. We will comment on the report tomorrow after reading it," Khan said while addressing a press conference.^[172]

Khan campaigned against Nawaz Sharif in the wake of the Panama Papers leaks in 2016, which revealed offshore companies linked to the Sharif family. He led protests, filed petitions through his party, and called for Sharif's resignation, citing allegations of corruption.^[173] Khan's party petitioned the Supreme Court regarding the Panama Papers case to investigate allegations of corruption involving Sharif's family. Khan described the case as a "defining moment" for the country.^[174]

On 7 April 2017, Khan criticised Pakistan's decision to support the Afghan jihad in the 1980s. Khan stated, "We made a big mistake in the 80s by entering into the jihad against the soviets. That left Pakistan with militants, militant groups, we had Kalashnikovs flooded and we had drugs which could be used to finance the war." Khan further added that prior to joining the war, Pakistan never had sectarian militant groups, "Fast forward to another decade later 9/11 happens and we are hunting the same jihadi groups which became terrorists." Khan remarked that Pakistan took dollars to prepare militants and then later took dollars to fight against them. Regarding US President Donald Trump, Khan said, "When Trump got elected and then I saw his team...I thought to myself he is not as bad as I thought he was, he is much worse."^[174]

Khan contested the 2018 Pakistani general election from NA-35 (Bannu),^[175] NA-53 (Islamabad-II),^[176] NA-95 (Mianwali-I),^[177] NA-131 (Lahore-IX),^[178] and NA-243 (Karachi East-II).^[179] According to early official results, Khan's party led the poll. His opposition, mainly the PML (N), alleged large-scale vote rigging and administrative malpractices.^[180] On 28 July, election officials declared that Khan's party had won 116 of the 270 seats,^[181] giving PTI the most seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan.^[182] Khan became the first person in the history of Pakistan elections to contest and win in all five constituencies, surpassing Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had contested four but won three constituencies in the 1970 elections.^[183]

On 20 May 2018, Khan's party announced a 100-day agenda ahead of the 2018 general elections. The plan proposed sweeping reforms in nearly all areas of governance. Key elements included the creation of a new province in Southern Punjab, fast-tracking the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, improvements to the law and order situation in Karachi, and efforts to improve relations with political leaders in Balochistan.^[184]

A number of opposition parties alleged "massive rigging" in Khan's favour, amid allegations of military interference in the general elections.^[185] Nawaz Sharif and his PML-N party, in particular, alleged that the military had manipulated the election process in favour of Khan and PTI, with judicial actions also seen as aligned with this effort.^[186] The Election Commission rejected allegations of rigging.^[187] Hamza Shehbaz, a senior PML-N leader, said that his party would concede victory to strengthen democracy, despite having lingering reservations about the manner in which the election was conducted.^[188] Two days after the 2018 general elections were held, the chief observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission to Pakistan, Michael Gahler, said that the overall situation of the election was satisfactory.^[189]

During his victory speech, Khan laid out the policy outlines for his future government. He said that his inspiration was to build Pakistan as a humanitarian state based on the principles of the first Islamic state of Medina. He said that his future government would prioritise the poor and common people of the country, and all policies would be directed towards raising the standard of living of the less fortunate. He promised an investigation into the allegations of rigging. He expressed his desire for a united Pakistan and pledged not to victimise his political opponents. He said that everyone would be equal before the law. He also promised a simple and less extravagant government, in which the Prime Minister of Pakistan House would be converted into an educational institute and the Governor Houses would be used for public benefit. On foreign policy, he praised China and expressed hope for better relations with Afghanistan, the United States, and India. Regarding the Middle East, he said that his government would strive to maintain a balanced relationship with Saudi Arabia and Iran.^[190]

On 6 August 2018, his party formally nominated him as its candidate for the office of prime minister.^[191] In his speech, Khan vowed to reserve an hour each week to interact with the public and answer questions they send his way, calling it "one hour of accountability."^[192] He designated Asad Umar as finance minister for his upcoming government.^[193] He nominated Mahmood Khan as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,^[194] and Usman Buzdar for Chief Minister of Punjab. Announcing the nomination, Khan said that he chose Buzdar because he hails from the most underdeveloped area of Punjab.^[195] According to sources within PTI, Buzdar was nominated as a stop-gap arrangement because it would be easier to remove a lesser-known individual when Shah Mahmood Qureshi was ready to become chief minister. Some within PTI suggested that he was chosen because other potential candidates like the Dareshaks, Khosas, and Hashim Jawan Bakht declined the offer to take on a temporary role.^[196] In Balochistan, Khan directed his party to support the Balochistan Awami Party, which nominated Jam Kamal Khan for the position of chief minister and Abdul Quddus Bizenjo for speaker.^[197]

Khan's party nominated Asad Qaiser as the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan,^[198] and PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi for the position of Speaker of the Punjab Assembly.^[199] In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani was nominated as Speaker of its Assembly.^[200]

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 Pakistani general election.^[201] His inauguration speech emphasised governance based on the principles of the Islamic state of Medina.^[202][190] Early bureaucratic reshuffles saw the appointment of Sohail Mahmood as Foreign Secretary, Rizwan Ahmed as Maritime Secretary, and Naveed Kamran Baloch as Finance Secretary.^[203][204] His first major military appointment was Lt. General Asim Munir as Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence.^[205] Khan initially held the Ministry of Interior portfolio after forming his cabinet.^[206]

Khan's government faced significant economic challenges after taking office in 2018, inheriting a twin balance of payments and debt crisis. His administration sought to stabilize the economy through a mix of austerity measures, structural reforms, and a $6 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These measures, which included devaluing the rupee, slashing subsidies, and targeting ambitious tax revenue goals, led to criticism from those who believed they contradicted Khan's promises of establishing an Islamic welfare state. Among the unpopular reforms were increased gas and electricity tariffs.^[207][208] Despite these challenges, Khan's policies achieved some economic progress. In its 2020 report, the World Bank's Ease of doing business index noted that Pakistan's business environment improved significantly, moving from 136th to 108th in global rankings, driven by six key regulatory reforms.^[209][210]

Fiscal measures and a significant increase in non-tax revenue helped reduce the fiscal deficit to 0.9% of GDP by the beginning of FY21. Persistent inflation, stagnant exports, and limited resource mobilization continued to undermine economic growth, with exports contracting by 16.6% in mid-2020.^[211] While tax collection showed improvement, Khan's government faced significant economic setbacks, including high inflation and a weakening currency, leading to political criticism.^[212] Economic reforms such as the second phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (FTA-II) were implemented to boost exports.^[213]

Upon taking office, Khan cut government spending by reducing the Prime Minister's staff from 524 to two and auctioning luxury items like bulletproof vehicles and helicopters.^[214] Despite criticism over his use of a helicopter,^[215] official documents in 2021 showed a 49% drop in Prime Minister's House expenses and a 29% cut in the Prime Minister's Office budget.^[216] Additionally, his 12 foreign trips across three continents cost the national exchequer $680,000—far less than a single New York visit by his predecessors.^[217]

In July 2018, then Chief Justice of Pakistan, Saqib Nisar, launched a fundraiser for the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Mohmand Dam.^[218] In September 2018, Khan endorsed Nisar's initiative and urged overseas Pakistanis to contribute through voluntary donations.^[219] As of November 2023, the dams fund stood at Rs17.86 billion.^[218]

His government reported record hydropower generation by WAPDA in 2019–2020, marking a 20% increase from the previous year. Key hydropower projects, including Dasu Dam, Mohmand Dam, and Diamer-Bhasha Dam, were initiated, alongside the $2.5 billion Kohala Hydropower Project (1,124 MW) signed in June 2020.^[220] His government pledged to avoid new coal-fired power stations, aiming instead for a renewable energy target of 60% by 2030. The cancellation of two planned coal projects was part of this shift.^[221] Efforts towards climate change mitigation included the launch of the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Programme, aiming to plant 10 billion trees across Pakistan. The government reported that approximately 1.5 million trees were planted on the programme's first day.^[222] A special audit revealed mismanagement of over Rs5.2 billion in the programme.^[223]

Khan's government faced criticism for suppressing dissent. The Human Rights Watch said there was increased restrictions on media and civil society.^[224] Journalists were subjected to legal actions, raids, and physical threats, with Khan reportedly referring to them as "mafias" and "blackmailers."^[225] Reporters Without Borders condemned investigations into journalists and proposals to centralise media regulation.^[226]

During Khan's tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan, there was progress in improving security, as evidenced by a 13% reduction in terrorist attacks in 2019 compared to the previous year. Challenges remained in regions such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and concerns about terrorism financing persisted.^[227] In 2019, his government formally banned the Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa and its affiliate Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation under the Anti-Terrorism Act, and arrested Saeed.^[228][229] The following year, foreign investors expressed greater confidence in Pakistan's improving security situation.^[230]

Public sector reforms included Pakistan International Airlines achieving operational breakeven after "quite a long time" and golden handshake schemes for employees at Pakistan Steel Mills.^[231][232]

Khan's government launched an anti-corruption campaign, run by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), aimed at addressing elite political corruption. Critics said the programme had slowed the economy because officials put off projects for fear of being investigated. Khan created a unit within NAB to deal with the officials' complaints.^[233] The Human Rights Watch said that Pakistani authorities were using the programme to intimidate and harass opponents.^[234]

Khan's relationship with Jahangir Tareen soured when Khan set up an inquiry into an allegation that Tareen had benefitted from government subsidies on sugar exports and profited from increasing local sugar prices. The rift between the two led to Tareen's self-imposed exile in London.^[235] The inquiry found that sugar mills, including Tareen's JDW Group, received a substantial share of export subsidies between 2015 and 2018, contributing to rising sugar prices.^[236]

In 2021, the NAB released its three-year performance report, revealing financial recoveries of Rs487 billion.^[237][238] Pakistan's ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index worsened from 117th in 2018 to 140th in 2021, leading to criticism of the effectiveness of Khan's anti-corruption measures.^[212] The Cabinet Division yearbook prepared in May 2022 revealed that the Assets Recovery Unit (ARU), established by Khan, was involved in recovering Rs426.4 billion in collaboration with agencies including NAB, with Rs389.5 billion being recovered under the supervision and assistance of the ARU. As shown in the yearbook, this amount was Rs93.9 billion more than the total amount recovered over the 17 years from 2000 to 2017. The yearbook said that the ARU did not directly recover assets but instead supported law enforcement agencies in the recovery process. Throughout Khan's tenure, the ARU faced criticism from the then-opposition, which demanded an audit of the unit.^[239]

In 2023, The Daily Telegraph reported that Lt. General Asim Munir intended to investigate corruption allegations involving Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, during Khan's tenure in June 2019. Shortly afterward, Munir was removed as Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and replaced by Lt. General Faiz Hameed. Khan said Munir's proposed investigation was not the reason for his removal.^[240]

Khan's government supported the restoration and construction of religious sites for minorities. In Quetta, a 200-year-old Gurdwara, previously used as a school for Muslim girls, was returned to the Sikh community after a prolonged legal battle, allowing worship for the first time in 73 years.^[241] His government also supported the construction and renovation of Sikh shrines, including the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.^[242] Khan formally inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor on 9 November 2019, providing visa-free access for Indian Sikh pilgrims. While the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) fully supported this initiative, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) criticised it, citing India's negative responses and tensions over Kashmir.^[243]

Khan's government introduced the Single National Curriculum (SNC) to standardise the education system, initially targeting classes 1 to 5.^[244] The Sehat Sahulat Program was launched to provide free medical care, with over 7 million families in Punjab reportedly receiving coverage.^[245] The government also launched the Ehsaas Programme as a comprehensive social safety net. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme reportedly disbursed Rs. 175 billion to 14.6 million beneficiaries.^[246] The programme received praise from Michael Barber, who described it as a transparent, results-driven poverty alleviation model.^[247][248]

Khan proposed measures regarding sexual violence, including the public hanging and chemical castration of convicted rapists.^[249] Following objections from the Council of Islamic Ideology deeming chemical castration un-Islamic, the punishment was removed.^[250]

In June 2021, Khan caused controversy 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 led to backlash from women's rights groups, accusing him of being a "rape apologist."^[251]

Khan's government also responded to a severe locust infestation between 2019 and 2020, declaring a national emergency and implementing measures like aerial spraying. Despite initial delays, Pakistan managed to bring the crisis under control by October 2020, with the Food and Agriculture Organization commending the country's efforts as exemplary.^{[252][253][254]}

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, Khan initially resisted a complete lockdown, citing Pakistan's economic vulnerability, where a quarter of the population lived in extreme poverty. Instead, his government implemented limited restrictions, such as closing educational institutions and restricting public gatherings, while also introducing screening procedures at airports. He stated that preparations had begun in January 2020 in anticipation of the virus's arrival from China.^[255]

After Khan ruled out a lockdown in his 22 March 2020 address, the Pakistan Army intervened at the request of the provinces, imposing a nationwide lockdown within 24 hours. The military took charge of the COVID-19 response, establishing the National Core Committee to coordinate between the national and provincial governments.^[256][257] The Pakistan Army's spokesperson announced that, following government instructions, the army chief had ordered the deployment of all available troops to help contain the virus's spread.^[258] Analyst Ayesha Siddiqa described Khan as appearing confused and dependent on the military, which made key decisions without his involvement.^[259]

At the Iran–Pakistan border crossing, individuals quarantined under the government's procedures faced inadequate screening, overcrowding, and unsanitary conditions, contributing to the virus's spread.^[260] The government also faced allegations of corruption, including an investigation into his health adviser Zafar Mirza for allegedly smuggling 20 million face masks.^[261]

Khan launched Pakistan's largest welfare programme,^[262] distributing a lump sum of Rs12,000 to 10 million low-income citizens under the Ehsaas Programme. The initiative aimed to provide relief to daily wage earners affected by the pandemic.^[263] The programme was praised internationally, with the World Health Organization commending Pakistan's commitment to establishing temporary isolation wards.^[264]

Khan also promoted a smart lockdown strategy, which used military technology for tracking and tracing COVID-19 cases, targeting specific virus hotspots instead of implementing a nationwide lockdown.^[265][266] He said that strict lockdowns would devastate Pakistan's economy and lead to starvation.^[267] Murad Ali Shah, Sindh's chief minister, acknowledged his efforts to build consensus on lockdown measures.^[268]

Khan led calls for debt relief for developing nations during the pandemic, a proposal that gained support from the United Nations and several African countries.^[269][270] His government's response remained controversial, with inconsistencies in federal policy leading to varied enforcement across the country. Religious clerics pressured the government to keep mosques open during Ramadan, undermining safety measures.^[271] In May 2020, Khan said the lockdown decision had been forced by the elite, without considering the poor.^[272]

Khan's government received a 73% approval rating for its handling of the pandemic, according to a 2021 Gallup Pakistan survey, ranking the country 8th among 32 surveyed nations.^[273] Pakistan's economy showed mixed results, with a 9% growth in textile exports in February 2021, though overall exports declined by 2.27% in the first eight months of FY21, and imports surged by 27%, widening the trade deficit.^[274] The government allowed duty-free imports of cotton yarn to counter a raw material shortage in the textile sector, which had seen increased exports to the US, surpassing India and performing better than Bangladesh.^[275]

Fitch Ratings projected a decline in Pakistan's public debt-to-GDP ratio due to the rupee's appreciation and nominal GDP growth but highlighted fiscal vulnerabilities, with a government fiscal deficit of 7.5% of GDP in FY21 and an interest burden of 38.7% of revenue, far exceeding the B median.^[276] His government introduced tax relief measures, including reduced customs duty on industrial raw materials, leading to an estimated Rs119 billion in foregone revenue, partially offset by a 17% sales tax on imported food and luxury goods.^[277] In July 2021, The Economist ranked Pakistan third on its normalcy index for pandemic response. The country's positivity rate for COVID-19 cases increased to over 3% on 7 July.^[278]

In November 2018, after President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of failing to aid the U.S. in the War on Terror, Khan responded by highlighting Pakistan's losses and contributions, stating that the country was "not your hired gun anymore."^[279]

Khan authorised a military response to any Indian aggression following the 2019 Pulwama attack.^[280] In response to India's subsequent 2019 Balakot airstrike, Pakistan carried out Operation Swift Retort, during which Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was captured and later released by Khan as a gesture of peace.^[281] Khan refused to engage with India after the Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 and twice denied Narendra Modi the use of Pakistani airspace.^[282][283]

Khan supported Turkey during the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria.^[284] He championed the Afghan peace process and facilitated trade by inaugurating a 24/7 border crossing with Afghanistan.^[285]

In 2019, he was named in the Time 100 list of the world's most influential people.^[286]

In June 2020, while addressing the National Assembly of Pakistan, Khan called Osama bin Laden a shaheed (martyr), a remark that drew criticism from the opposition.^[287]

His government improved relations with Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, with Pakistan securing debt relief and diplomatic engagement.^[288] His visit to Saudi Arabia was seen as an effort to restore relations strained by Pakistan's refusal to support the Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war.^[289]

In February 2022, Khan became the first Pakistani prime minister in two decades to visit Moscow, seeking to strengthen economic ties and address Pakistan's energy needs. His visit coincided with the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, prompting international criticism, including from the United States, which urged responsible nations to oppose Vladimir Putin's actions.^[291][292] Discussions with Putin focused on "economic and energy cooperation," including the development of the Pakistan Stream gas pipeline.^[293][294]

Khan said that the visit to Russia was pre-planned and aimed at fostering neutrality in global alliances.^[295] During a subsequent UN General Assembly emergency session, Pakistan abstained from condemning Russia, with Khan advocating for de-escalation and adherence to international law.^[296] He later criticised Western envoys who urged Pakistan to support the UN resolution against Russia.^[297] After his government's ouster, Khan stated that the visit had secured offers for discounted oil and wheat from Russia. The Russian Ambassador to Pakistan stated that no formal agreements had been signed.^[298] The ambassador suggested that the visit may have contributed to Khan's removal from power.^[299]

In June 2018, before Khan became Prime Minister, Pakistan was placed on the FATF grey list due to deficiencies in anti–money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.^[300] His government introduced the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2020 in Parliament.^[301] The opposition objected to specific provisions, including those granting authorities the power to arrest without a warrant and conduct covert operations. They described these as "draconian laws" that violated fundamental rights and claimed they exceeded FATF requirements.^{[302][303][304]} Khan criticized the opposition for blocking the bills, accusing them of seeking an NRO.^[305] By June 2021, 26 out of 27 points were addressed and FATF urged swift action to complete the final item.^[306][307]

In June 2022, two months following Khan's ouster, FATF decided to remove Pakistan from the grey list, recognizing the completion of both the 2018 and 2021 action plans.^[308] Khan credited his government for the achievement, particularly his former energy minister, Hammad Azhar, who led the FATF Coordination Committee.^[309] The Shehbaz Sharif government also claimed credit for the success, while The Express Tribune acknowledged that Khan's government had "done most of the work."^[310] Pakistan was officially removed from the grey list in October 2022 after a successful FATF on-site visit.^[311]

In September 2019, Khan, alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, announced the launch of a joint English-language TV channel aimed at addressing Islamophobia.^[313] In October 2020, Khan criticised the spread of Islamophobia, urging Facebook to ban Islamophobic content and accusing French President Emmanuel Macron of attacking Islam for supporting the cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad. These comments came amidst protests in Pakistan against the cartoons.^[314]

In 2021, Khan called on Muslim countries to pressure Western governments to make insulting the Islamic Prophet Muhammad a crime, "likening this measure to laws against Holocaust denial".^[315] Khan added, "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."^[316]

In March 2022, Pakistan led a UN resolution to designate 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.^[317]

In August 2023, The Intercept published the text of a leaked Pakistani diplomatic cipher. The cipher revealed that, during a meeting on 7 March 2022, US State Department officials, including Donald Lu, expressed concerns over Khan's 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 Khan were removed in the upcoming no-confidence motion, and warned of potential economic and political isolation for Pakistan if he remained in office. After the cipher was published, the U.S. denied any attempt to remove Khan, stating that its concerns were about his policies rather than about who led Pakistan.^[318]

On 8 March 2022, opposition parties submitted a no-confidence motion against Khan, citing his government's mismanagement of the economy — including rising inflation, heavy debt, and a weakening currency — as well as its foreign policy.^[319] By 18 March, some members of his party had defected, and two coalition partners joined the opposition, resulting in the loss of Khan's majority in the National Assembly.^[320][321]

On 27 March, Khan presented a letter alleging foreign interference in Pakistan's politics, suggesting US involvement in his potential removal.^[322] The National Security Council (NSC) also expressed concerns about foreign interference.^[323] On 3 April, following the Deputy Speaker's rejection of the no-confidence motion, President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly, leading to legal challenges by the opposition.^[324] Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized the US for its alleged attempts to remove Khan from office over his independent foreign policy, including his relations with Russia.^[325] On 10 April, Khan sent the cipher to the Supreme Court, despite warnings from legal advisors about the potential violation of constitutional oaths and the Official Secrets Act.^[326]

Khan was ultimately ousted after a Supreme Court ruling on 10 April that deemed the rejection of the no-confidence motion illegal, with the vote passing in favor of his removal, making him the first Pakistani PM to be ousted by a no-confidence vote.^[327][328] Following his removal, Khan continued to allege US involvement in his ouster, blaming the US for opposing his independent foreign policy, which fostered closer ties with China and Russia.^[329] Subsequently, the new government held another National Security Council meeting, rejecting the claim that Khan's government was removed through a foreign conspiracy. However, it quietly agreed with the earlier meeting, chaired by Khan's government, that the U.S. had interfered in Pakistan's internal affairs.^[330]

During a speech in 2022, Imran Khan referenced a clip of a speech by Maryam Nawaz, in which she mentioned Khan's name multiple times. Khan remarked: "Someone sent me a clip on social media of Maryam's speech, somewhere. She took my name so many times and with so much passion, I want to tell her that Maryam, please be careful, your husband might get upset the way you call my name again and again." Khan's comments followed Maryam's repeated tirades against him and his wife, Bushra Bibi. Perceived as inappropriate and misogynistic, the comment was criticised by the opposition and some supporters.^[331]

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned Khan's remarks, describing them as having "plumbed the depths of misogyny" and calling for an apology not only to Maryam but to all women.^[332]

The government, formed by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), filed the Toshakhana case against Imran Khan in August 2022, alleging that he had failed to disclose details of official gifts received during his premiership and the proceeds from their sale in his declarations to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP),^[333] and that he had not declared the proceeds for tax purposes.^[334]

Of the gifts received, Khan reportedly retained 58 gifts, with only 14 valued at over Rs 14,000 each. On 8 September, Khan rejected the allegations as misleading and false, and requested the ECP to dismiss the case. In his reply to the ECP, Khan stated that all purchases were lawfully declared in his tax returns and wealth statements. The ECP hearings were delayed as Khan's legal team sought extensions.^[335]

On 21 October 2022, the ECP disqualified Khan under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution, declaring that he had submitted a false statement and incorrect declaration of assets for the tax year 2020–21. A four-member ECP bench unanimously ruled that Khan had deliberately misled officials regarding Toshakhana gifts. The commission also ordered the initiation of criminal proceedings against him under various sections of the Election Act, 2017.^[336]

On 3 November 2022, Khan was shot in the leg in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad while leading a march towards Islamabad to demand early elections.^[337] One of his supporters was killed during the attack.^[338] The alleged perpetrator, identified as Muhammad Naveed, was overpowered by one of Khan's supporters, which threw off his aim.^[339] Naveed said that he had acted alone and had targeted Khan because he believed Khan was misleading the people.^[340][341] Khan blamed the incumbent government for the assassination plot, primarily Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and the Director General Counter Intelligence of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Faisal Naseer. He did not present any evidence to substantiate these claims. In response to these accusations, both government and military officials denied any involvement in the attack. Federal Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb refuted Khan's allegations, questioning how he could demand the resignation of these officials before an investigation had even begun. The Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of Pakistan's military, condemned the allegations, which it said were baseless and irresponsible, and said that no one would be allowed to defame the military or its personnel. Sanaullah also rejected Khan's allegations, calling them grievous.^[342][343]

Khan alleged that a trap had been set at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) on 18 March 2023, where he had arrived for a Toshakhana case hearing. He said that a colleague had signalled him to escape, having understood the situation to be a trap.^[344] In an audio message sent to journalists, Khan said that he had been waiting outside the FJC and was trying to enter, but the police's use of tear gas made it seem as if they did not want him to reach the court. The Islamabad Police tweeted that upon Khan's arrival at the FJC, his supporters began pelting the police with stones, prompting them to respond with tear gas.^[345] Khan said that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had taken control of the area around the FJC the night before.^[346] Despite waiting for five hours, he did not disembark from his vehicle. Khan said that the purpose of the 20 unknown individuals in plain shalwar kameez was another attempt on his life, similar to the Wazirabad attack.^[344]

Khan also accused police, the Pakistan Rangers, and unidentified individuals of provoking his supporters to create chaos in order to use it as a cover to kill him. He condemned a police raid on his home in his absence, calling it unlawful and a violation of court orders, and added that the plan was orchestrated on the instructions of Maryam Nawaz.^[347]

As a result of an arrest warrant issued by the district and sessions court in Islamabad, the Islamabad Police and the Lahore Police launched an operation to arrest Khan on 14 March 2023.^[348] On 9 May, Khan was arrested at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by paramilitary forces who stormed into the courthouse,^[349] in connection with his alleged role in the 190 million pound case.^[350] The case centres around corruption allegations claiming that Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, secured land worth billions of rupees from property tycoon Malik Riaz in exchange for a deal that allegedly caused the national exchequer to lose Rs50 billion (£190 million).^[351] The funds, originally recovered by the UK's National Crime Agency, were reportedly meant for the national treasury but were instead used to pay fines imposed on Riaz for acquiring government land at below-market rates. The couple, who are the sole trustees of the Al-Qadir Trust, are accused of benefiting from this settlement, including the acquisition of 458 kanals of land for Al-Qadir University in Jhelum.^[352]

His arrest triggered violent unrest, including the May 9 riots, during which PTI supporters allegedly attacked military and government installations.^[353] The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) declared Khan's arrest illegal, ruling that it was invalid due to the manner in which it was carried out—by paramilitary forces seizing him from within the court premises, which the judges deemed a violation of judicial sanctity.^[354] On 12 May, Khan appeared in court, where judges granted him protective bail, meaning he could not be re-arrested on the same charges for two weeks.^[355]

On 5 August 2023, Khan was arrested for the second time and sentenced to three years' imprisonment after being found guilty of misusing his premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession, received during visits abroad and valued at more than 140 million rupees.^[356] On 29 August 2023, an appeals court suspended Khan's corruption conviction and three-year prison term, and granted him bail.^[357] A special court ordered that he remain incarcerated in connection with the cypher case,^[358] in which he was accused of leaking state secrets and thereby violating the Official Secrets Act.^{[359][further explanation needed]} Since then, Khan has been held in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where the special court was also set up to conduct the trial.^[360]

In August 2023, the government submitted a report to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, stating that Khan's daily meals included bread, omelette, curd, and tea for breakfast, along with fresh fruits, vegetables, pulses, rice, and desi mutton cooked in ghee for lunch and dinner. His cell was cleaned daily by a designated sanitary worker, and additional security personnel were deployed for his safety. The Supreme Court had ordered the government to submit this report following Khan's complaints about the conditions in which he was being held.^[361]

On 30 January 2024, Khan was convicted and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in the cypher case.^[360] Khan said that all the charges against him were politically motivated.^[360] The next day, Khan was convicted and sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment in the Toshakhana case, which involved the unlawful sale of state gifts presented to him and his wife, Bushra Bibi, during his tenure as prime minister.^[362] The sentence was suspended on 1 April, pending a court decision after the Eid holidays.^[363] On 3 February, Khan and his wife were convicted and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and fined 500,000 rupees each in a criminal case arising from allegations that Bushra did not complete the Islamic waiting period, known as Iddat, before marrying Khan in 2018.^[364]

On 8 February, a PTI official said that Khan had been permitted to vote from prison in the 2024 Pakistani general election through a postal ballot.^[365]

On 30 May 2024, Khan informed the Supreme Court that he was being kept in solitary confinement and that the government had imposed restrictions on his meetings with lawyers and family members. In June, the Pakistani government told the Supreme Court that the conditions of Khan's imprisonment included a walking area adjacent to his cell, a cooler, a television, and exercise equipment. It said that Khan had access to a separate kitchen and could meet his legal team and family. In its submission, the government provided photographs of Khan's cell and other items, as well as a photo showing a meeting between him and his legal team in prison.^[366]

On 3 June 2024, the Islamabad High Court overturned Khan's conviction in the cipher case. Khan remained in prison despite the acquittal, as he had been convicted in other cases and was facing additional charges.^[367] On 13 July, Khan's conviction in the marriage case involving Bushra Bibi was overturned on appeal. However, he remained in prison after a court cancelled his bail in a separate case related to the May 9 riots.^[368]

In June 2024, a United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for Khan's release, stating that his detention was arbitrary and politically motivated.^[369] In an interview with The Sunday Times in July from prison, Khan said he is being held in a small, 'death cell' typically reserved for terrorists.^[370] In September 2024, Amnesty International said that it had "noted a pattern of weaponisation of the legal system to keep Khan under detention and away from all political activity". It called for his immediate release.^[371] In September 2024, Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, said that the authorities are endangering his life and attempting to weaken him by keeping him in poor conditions.^[372] In October 2024, authorities said that a regular medical examination is conducted every two weeks and that no health issues have been observed during his imprisonment.^[373]

On 8 October 2024, Pakistani police charged Khan with attempted murder over the death of a police officer during protests by his supporters in Islamabad.^[374]

On 22 November 2024, the IHC granted Khan bail in the Toshakhana case, but he was not released from jail due to multiple other cases against him.^[375] On 24 November, supporters of Khan attempted to hold nationwide protests demanding his release.^[376]

Since the 2022 no-confidence vote, Khan has been named in 186 legal cases across Pakistan, as reported to the court in December 2024 by the Ministry of Interior, Islamabad Police, Federal Investigation Agency, and National Accountability Bureau.^[377]

On 17 January 2025, Khan was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment by an accountability court in the Al-Qadir Trust case, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, was handed a seven-year jail term.^[352]

On 21 August 2025, the SCP granted Khan bail in eight cases connected to the 9 May riots. However, he was not released from jail due to his sentence in the Al-Qadir Trust case.^[378]

Khan has said that his imprisonment is politically motivated, alleging involvement by the Pakistan Armed Forces (referred to as the Establishment) and the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.^[379] Both the military and the government have denied these allegations, with the military labelling them as "fabricated and malicious", and Prime Minister Sharif rejecting them as "blatant lies".^[380] When he appeared before the Supreme Court via video link from jail in June 2024, Khan said that Pakistan is under an "undeclared martial law."^[381] In August 2024, Khan said that the ISI controls all administrative matters related to his imprisonment. He further stated that it has made his conditions in jail more severe.^[346]

In August 2024, Zulfi Bukhari announced that he had submitted an application on Khan's behalf to contest the University of Oxford Chancellor election.^[382] On 16 October 2024, university officials excluded him from the race for chancellorship, saying that his candidacy had been disqualified based on established exclusion criteria, which led to the acceptance of 38 out of over 40 applicants.^[383][384] Key factors cited included Khan's prior conviction and his active political role, which were viewed as inconsistent with the requirements for the position. Legal analysis by King's Counsel Hugh Southey of Matrix Chambers, as well as the policy advocacy group Beltway Grid, held that Oxford's regulations set standards of integrity and impartiality that Khan did not meet.^[384]

In November 2024, Khan's sister, Rubina Khanum, said that Zulfi "had dragged Imran Khan into the chancellor candidacy race for self-interest."^[385]

In his 2003 statement to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Khan declared his home in Zaman Park, Lahore, an apartment in Islamabad, 39 kanals^[i] of land in Islamabad, 530 kanals^[j] in Khanewal, and a share in 363 kanals^[k] of inherited agricultural land.^[386]

According to a 2011 interview with the Financial Times, Khan said that he purchased a penthouse in South Kensington in 1983 for £110,000 and sold it in 2003 to buy land in Islamabad.^[387]

In 2017, Khan's 300-kanal residence in Bani Gala, Islamabad, was valued at Rs. 750 million (US$2.6 million), according to figures reported by the ECP. Other assets included furniture worth Rs. 0.6 million (US$2,100) and livestock.^[388] In 2020, the ECP released another report on Khan's assets, saying that he declared assets worth Rs80.6 million, including a six-kanal plot in Mohra Noori worth Rs0.5 million and five inherited plots in Mianwali, Bhakkar, Sheikhupura, and Khanewal. He sold his property in Ferozewala for Rs70 million. Additionally, he purchased two apartments on Shahrah-e-Dastoor for Rs10.19 million. Khan had Rs50.66 million in a bank account in Pakistan and Rs10.99 million in cash. He also maintained four foreign currency accounts, holding £518, $328,760, and $1,470, with an empty euro account. He also declared four goats valued at Rs200,000.^[389]

In his nomination papers for the 2024 Pakistani general election, Khan declared that he holds over Rs90 million in multiple bank accounts and more than $300,000 in his foreign currency account. He owns over a dozen properties, most of them inherited, including agricultural land and his residence in Zaman Park. Khan made an advance payment of Rs11.97 million for an apartment on Shahrah-e-Dastoor and declared Rs11.47 million in expenditures for his residence in Bani Gala. He also said that he does not own any vehicle.^[390]

According to The News International, tax records indicated that Khan paid nearly Rs. 4.7 million in taxes between 1981 and 2017. He was exempt from paying taxes in several of those years.^[391] In January 2022, the FBR published its tax directory for parliamentarians for the year 2019, stating that Khan paid Rs9.8 million in taxes in that year.^[392] In 2022, his income was Rs185.68 million, owing to the sale of a watch gifted to him by a foreign dignitary. The year before, his income was just over Rs7 million.^[390] For the fiscal year ending on 30 June 2023, Khan's tax contributions increased to Rs15.59 million, as his net worth rose to Rs315.95 million.^[393]

Khan's political agenda blends Islamic values, leftist economics with a focus on social welfare and economic disparity, and an emphasis on clean government and democracy. He rededicated himself to Islam in the latter stages of his cricket career, influenced by a spiritual awakening encouraged by a Sufi mystic. Khan initially supported General Pervez Musharraf after the 1999 coup, calling him the country's saviour, but later reversed his position, criticising him as a "stooge of the U.S. government and enemy of democracy" ahead of the 2002 general elections. Khan rejected Musharraf's offer to make him prime minister and described being charmed by Musharraf's convincing rhetoric during their nearly three-year alliance.^[101]

At a rally in May 2006, Khan criticised Musharraf for "licking George W. Bush's shoes". He further said that Hosni Mubarak and Hamid Karzai were puppets sitting on the Muslim world.^[394]

A leaked US diplomatic cable from January 2010 released by WikiLeaks, revealed that US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson met with Khan at his residence, where Khan criticised the United States for its "dangerous" policies, including drone operations.^[395]

In a 2012 interview with Barkha Dutt, Khan referred to liberals in Pakistan as the "scum of the country" and described them as fascists. He said that these liberals supported the bombing and drone attacks on villages. He further said that it was the liberals who backed the United States' policies, including the War on Terror, which had contributed to the rise of extremism in the country.^[396]

In November 1999, Khan condemned the United Nations for failing to stop Russian "atrocities" in Chechnya.^[397]

After the 2003 invasion of Iraq began, Khan participated in a protest held in Hyde Park, London, opposing the war. There, Khan said: "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."^[398]

In a 2010 interview, Khan said: "I grew up hating India because I grew up in Lahore and there were massacres of 1947, so much bloodshed and anger. But as I started touring India, I got such love and friendship there that all this disappeared."^[399]

In 2011, Khan became the first Pakistani dignitary to demand an official apology from the Government of Pakistan to the people of Bangladesh for the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. He said he had initially supported the operation due to the lack of independent media in Pakistan but later came to know the truth from Bengali friends in England. Khan further said that Pakistan must learn lessons from past mistakes and should not repeat them in Balochistan and the tribal areas.^[400]

In August 2012, the Pakistani Taliban issued death threats against Khan if he went ahead with his march to their tribal stronghold to protest U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, calling him a "liberal" and "secular" — terms they equated with being an infidel.^[401] On 1 October, they withdrew their death threats and offered him protection for the rally. They "endorse[d] Imran Khan's plea that drone strikes are against our sovereignty. The anti-drone rallies should have been taken out by the religious leaders long ago but Imran had taken the lead and we wouldn't harm him or his followers".^[402]

On 6 October, Khan led a convoy of 10,000 people to protest US drone strikes. The convoy was stopped by hundreds of security personnel just miles from the border of South Waziristan. After an hour of unsuccessful negotiations, Khan announced that the rally would return to the city of Tank, about 15 kilometres away. Earlier, while addressing a crowd in Tank, Khan emphasised that the rally would not force its way into South Waziristan. "We do not want to clash with the administration because it is a peace march. We have already succeeded in our mission," Khan said.^[403]

His perceived sympathy towards the Taliban, as well as his criticism of the US-led war on terror, has led to him being labelled "Taliban Khan" by critics. Commenting on the moniker, Khan 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."^[404] He has expressed support for negotiations with the Taliban,^[405] and has opposed specific military operations, such as the 2010 operation in Kala Dhaka.^[406]

Khan has described himself as a pacifist and anti-war. He has opposed military interventions, particularly in Afghanistan, and has criticised Pakistan's involvement in the U.S.-led war on terror.^[407] Khan has opposed the Iraq War, the Russian Invasion of Ukraine,^[408] the Gaza genocide, and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.^[409]

In 2013, Khan proposed secret talks between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue, saying that open negotiations risk being subverted by vested interests on both sides.^[410]

In 2014, when the Pakistani Taliban announced armed struggle against Ismailis and the Kalash people, Khan released a statement describing "forced conversions as un-Islamic."^[411] He has also condemned the incidents of forced conversion of Hindu girls in Sindh.^[412]

In the 1970s and 1980s, Khan attracted media attention for his looks and charm.^[413] In the 1980s, he sported a playboy image in the British press for his exploits on the London party circuit, although he said that he never drank alcohol.^[101] He was referred to as the Sexiest Man Alive by the British media in the early 1990s.^[414] He was also known to millions of cricket fans as the Lion of Lahore.^[415]

In 1996, The Wall Street Journal described him as employing populist rhetoric, combining anti-elite messaging with appeals to religious values. His criticism of Westernised Pakistani elites was contrasted with his own privileged background and connections to the Western jet set.^[416] He has said of his past that "I have never claimed to be an angel. I am a humble sinner."^[13] As part of his 2006 interview with Khan, Peter Lloyd described his transformation as a "playboy to puritan U-turn" that left many people scratching their heads in wonder.^[394] In 2018, Reuters described Khan as a Pakistani cricketing icon and former London playboy who had "transformed himself into a pious, firebrand nationalist".^[417]

In June 2011, a Pew Research Center poll showed Khan with a 68 percent approval rating, significantly higher than Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani's 37 percent and President Asif Ali Zardari's 11 percent. That same year, The Washington Post described Khan as an underdog, stating that he "often sounds like a pro-democracy liberal but is well known for his coziness with conservative Islamist parties." H. M. Naqvi referred to Khan as a "sort of a Ron Paul figure," noting that "there is no taint of corruption and there is his anti-establishment message."^[418]

Pankaj Mishra, writing for The New York Times in 2012, characterised Khan 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 favoured monikers for him." Mishra concluded, "like all populist politicians, Khan 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."^[419]

After the 2013 Pakistani general election, Mohammed Hanif, writing for The Guardian, said that while Khan appealed to the educated middle classes, Pakistan's main problem was that the country did not have enough educated urban middle-class citizens.^[420]

According to a survey by Gallup Pakistan in August 2018,^[421] 52% of Pakistanis believed that Khan's tenure as Prime Minister would be better than the previous government.^[422] In a 2019 poll by the International Republican Institute (IRI), 40% of respondents said Khan's performance was "good", and 17% said "very good".^[423] A 2021 survey by Ipsos Pakistan found that 55% of respondents said the Khan government was 'worse than you expected'.^[424] In a 2022 poll by Gallup Pakistan, 48% of respondents held a negative perception of Khan's performance, while 36% expressed a favourable opinion.^[425] Another survey by Gallup Pakistan, conducted after Khan's vote-of-no confidence, said that 57% of respondents were 'happy' about his removal from office, while 43% were 'angry'.^[426] A March 2023 survey by Gallup Pakistan, conducted after the end of his premiership, said that 61% of Pakistanis held a 'good opinion' of Khan.^[427]

The arrest and imprisonment of Khan in August 2023 angered many in Indian-administered Kashmir.^[428]

Several news reports and scholarly works have characterised Khan's political career as being marked by a perception of closeness to Pakistan's military establishment. According to Christopher Clary, who is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at State University of New York-Albany, Khan entered politics in the mid-1990s in open alliance with Hamid Gul, a former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).^[429] In 2012, author Fatima Bhutto criticised Khan for "incredible coziness not with the military but with dictatorship," citing his favourable remarks about Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and his support for Pervez Musharraf's 2002 referendum.^[430]

He was also close to Ahmed Shuja Pasha, another former ISI chief. Clary said that, during the 2014 Tsunami March and sit-in led by Khan, there were widespread allegations of the involvement of then-serving ISI chief Zaheer-ul-Islam.^[429] Historian Ian Talbot said that Khan's role in the 2014 protests was controversial. Talbot stated that Khan "denied that he was a military cat’s paw", which he said conflicted with former PTI president Javed Hashmi's claim that the protests were inspired by Pasha. Talbot wrote that "Khan's actions, if not sinister, were reckless" and that they threatened the hoped-for rebalancing of civil–military relations in Pakistan.^[431][432] He added that these actions contributed to the strengthening of military authority rather than civilian assertion,^[431] and concluded 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."^[432]

According to Mohammad Waseem, Professor of Political Science at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, Khan's populist movement was facilitated by the military establishment, which sought to counter the influence of the two major political parties—the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML (N)). Waseem said that Khan was cultivated by the establishment as an alternative political force, and that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) functioned as a "shadow" Muslim League designed to attract electable candidates ahead of the 2018 general election. He said that Khan responded to middle-class aspirations to eliminate dynastic politics, and attained office not through popular mobilisation, but through the support of the military. Waseem also said that Khan was portrayed in national and international media as the military's preferred candidate, contributing to opposition claims that he was a "selected" rather than elected prime minister.^[433]

US diplomat Theodore Craig, in his book Pakistan and American Diplomacy, wrote that, after the 2018 elections, the United States refrained from pressing for an "unblemished election" or rejecting "antidemocratic manipulations", as "[h]ad we challenged the military's Imran Khan project, it would not have changed the government, but it could have ended hopes for progress on Afghanistan."^[434]

The New York Times wrote in 2024 that Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, another former ISI chief, was an ally of Khan.^[435] In a 2024 retrospective report, Arab News wrote that Khan was widely believed to have been propelled to power in 2018 with the backing of the military.^[436] Arab News said that, in the period following his ouster in 2022, Hameed was widely believed to have provided counsel to Khan as his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), openly criticised the army and its senior leadership. Since 2022, Khan has waged a campaign of defiance against the military establishment, blaming the army for not preventing the no-confidence motion that led to his removal.^[436]

Ashok Swain, Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, Sweden, wrote that Khan's challenging of, and accusations against the military is unique in Pakistan's history. Swain said that Khan had become the military's strongest critic with the potential to reform the military's historically unchecked power. Khan's approach has divided his allies and the military, but, according to Swain, has "mobilised a new generation of politically aware Pakistanis, including women and youth who previously shunned politics".^[437]

During his cricketing days, Khan appeared in television commercials for products such as Pepsi Pakistan, Brooke Bond tea, Thums Up (along with Sunil Gavaskar), and the Indian soap brand Cinthol, at a time when Bollywood actor Vinod Khanna was also endorsing the same product.^[438] Dev Anand offered him a role in his 1990 sports action-thriller Bollywood movie Awwal Number, that of a cricket star in decline; Khan, however, refused, citing his lack of acting skills.^[439]

In 2014, Canadian rock band Nickelback released a music video for its politically themed single "Edge of a Revolution", featuring a short clip of a PTI rally among other protests. The brief clip from the rally shows party flags along with a poster of Khan.^[440]

Chacha Nooruddin, who rose to fame as Captain Chappal,^[441] gifted a pair of specially crafted Peshawari chappals to Khan for his 2015 wedding. Although the double-soled design had been around for years,^[442] the traditional Peshawari chappal became iconic as Khan's footwear of choice.^[443]

In the late 1980s, Khan served as editor of The Cricketer, a London-based cricket magazine.^[444] He periodically wrote editorials on cricket and Pakistani politics in several leading Pakistani and British newspapers. It was revealed in 2008 that Khan's second book, Indus Journey: A Personal View of Pakistan, had required heavy editing from the publisher. The publisher, Jeremy Lewis, revealed in a memoir that when he asked Khan to show his writing for publication, "He handed me a leather-bound notebook or diary containing a few jottings and autobiographical snippets. It took me, at most, five minutes to read them; and that, it soon became apparent, was all we had to go on."^[445] Khan's autobiography, titled Pakistan: A Personal History, was published in 2011, detailing his transition from cricketer to politician, as well as the challenges he faced in his philanthropic work.^[446] Khan has penned an op-ed for CNN in 2021, where he advocated for the conservation and restoration of damaged natural ecosystems.^[447]

Khan's publications include:

• West and East (Macmillan, 1975)
• Imran: The Autobiography of Imran Khan (Pelham, 1983)
• Imran Khan's Cricket Skills (Hamlyn, 1989)
• Indus Journey: A Personal View of Pakistan (Chatto & Windus, 1991)
• All Round View (Mandarin, 1992)
• Warrior Race: A Journey Through the Land of the Tribal Pathans (Chatto & Windus, 1993)
• Pakistan: A Personal History (Bantam Press, 2011)
• Main Aur Mera Pakistan (Orient, 2014)

• Electoral history of Imran Khan
• Goldsmith family
• Pets of Imran Khan
• List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Imran Khan
• List of sportsperson-politicians
• List of international prime ministerial trips made by Imran Khan
• 2011 Minar-e-Pakistan PTI Jalsa