242 Facts About Imran Khan

Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi was born on 5 October 1952 and is a Pakistani politician, philanthropist, and former cricketer who served as the 19th prime minister of Pakistan from August 2018 until April 2022.

Imran Khan is the founder and former chairman of the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from 1996 to 2023.

Imran Khan began his international cricket career in a 1971 Test series against England.

Imran Khan was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1983.

Imran Khan is credited with advancing the idea of neutral umpiring in cricket during his captaincy.

Imran Khan led Pakistan to its first-ever Test series victories in India and England during 1987.

Imran Khan was awarded the International Cricketer of the Year award in 1989.

Imran Khan initially decided to retire after the 1987 Cricket World Cup.

Imran Khan has often been compared to Franz Beckenbauer in terms of his popularity and influence in Pakistan.

Imran Khan's government inherited a balance of payments crisis and sought bailouts from the IMF.

Imran Khan presided over GDP growth after initial contraction, implemented austerity policies, and increased tax collection.

Imran Khan's government committed to a renewable energy transition, launched the Ehsaas Programme, and the Plant for Pakistan initiative, and expanded the protected areas of Pakistan and Sehat Sahulat Program.

Imran Khan presided over the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused economic turmoil and rising inflation in the country.

In May 2023, Imran Khan was attending a hearing on corruption charges when paramilitary forces stormed into the Islamabad High Court and arrested him.

Imran Khan was sentenced to ten years in prison in early 2024 for leaking state secrets and violating the Official Secrets Act in the Lettergate affair, and an additional seven years for breaching Islamic marriage laws with his wife; both of these sentences were overturned in mid-2024.

Imran Khan has since been charged on matters related to the 2023 riots, clashes between his supporters and police in September 2024, and in the Al-Qadir Trust case in January 2025, receiving a 14-year sentence.

Imran Khan is the only son of Ikramullah Khan Niazi, a civil engineer, and his wife, Shaukat Khanum, and has four sisters.

Imran Khan is of Pathan origin belonging to the Niazi tribe from his paternal family, and claims that one of his ancestors was Haibat Imran Khan Niazi, a leading general of Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century and the governor of Punjab.

Imran Khan studied at Aitchison College and Cathedral School in Lahore.

In 2021, Imran Khan revealed that he had played for the Colts Hockey team in the mid-1960s.

Imran Khan arrived at the Royal Grammar School Worcester in England in September 1971, where he excelled at cricket.

Imran Khan worked during the Christmas season, washing dishes and cutting cheese.

In 1972, after being turned down by Cambridge University, Imran Khan was admitted to Keble College, Oxford, where he studied philosophy, politics and economics, graduating in 1975.

Imran Khan 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.

Imran Khan 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.

Imran Khan accompanied him everywhere, including a hunting trip to Peshawar and a cricket tour to Australia.

Imran Khan painted a portrait of Khan during their relationship at his request.

Imran Khan had a brief relationship with Susannah Constantine, whom he met through Lulu Blacker.

The relationship lasted for two years, ending when Imran Khan reportedly wrote White a note stating that he could not love her as Emma would always be the love of his life.

White later claimed Imran Khan was the father and continued to keep a framed photograph of him after their split.

Tyrian became the subject of a legal dispute in 1997 when a California court ruled Imran Khan to be her father after White filed a paternity suit.

The court issued the ruling after Imran Khan failed to respond to the suit and a request for a blood test.

Imran Khan denied paternity and called for a paternity test in Pakistan, stating that he would accept the decision of the courts of Pakistan.

Imran 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.

The couple announced that they were to marry, with Imran Khan stating that Jemima had converted to Islam "through her own convictions" after studying the religion.

Imran Khan wrote that Bhutto, at the age of 21, became close to Khan in 1975.

Sandford further claimed that Imran Khan's mother had attempted to arrange a marriage between them, though this was unsuccessful.

On 8 January 2015, it was announced that Imran Khan had married British-Pakistani journalist Reham Imran Khan in a private Nikah ceremony at his residence in Islamabad.

Reports suggested that Imran Khan had visited Pakpattan multiple times in July 2016, allegedly to meet Maryam Riaz Wattoo, the sister of his spiritual guide, Bushra Bibi.

Imran Khan publicly denied the rumours on Twitter, clarifying that the reports about his third marriage were "absolutely baseless" and saying that when he does decide to marry, he would make an official announcement and celebrate publicly.

Imran Khan termed the media "unethical" for spreading the rumour, and PTI filed a complaint against the news channels that had aired it.

On 7 January 2018, the PTI central secretariat issued a statement confirming that Imran Khan had proposed to Bushra, but she had yet to accept his proposal.

On 18 February 2018, PTI confirmed that Imran Khan had married Bushra.

The Mufti who conducted the marriage later testified in court that Imran Khan's nikah had been conducted twice.

The Mufti alleged Imran Khan believed he would become prime minister if he married her on that date.

Imran Khan made his first-class debut at the age of 16 in Lahore.

Between 1971 and 1976, Imran Khan played English county cricket for Worcestershire.

Imran Khan made his Test cricket debut against England in June 1971 at Edgbaston.

Imran Khan later passed on this skill to Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, who mastered and popularised it.

From January 1980 to 1988, Imran Khan took 236 Test wickets at an average of 17.77, with 18 five-wicket hauls and five 10-wicket hauls.

Imran Khan was the highest wicket-taker in Test matches in the calendar year 1982.

In 1982, Imran Khan took over the captaincy of the Pakistan national cricket team.

Imran Khan was the mastermind behind reforming cricket umpiring, driven by his frustration over the constant criticism of Pakistani officials after every series in Pakistan.

In 1987, in India, Imran 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.

Imran Khan retired from international cricket at the end of the 1987 Cricket World Cup.

Imran Khan was asked to return to the captaincy by the President of Pakistan, General Zia-ul-Haq and decided to rejoin the team.

Imran Khan became the first Asian cricketer and the eighth non-Australian player to win the International Cricketer of the Year award in 1989.

Imran Khan captained in 139 ODIs, securing 75 victories, suffering 59 defeats, and ending one in a tie.

Imran Khan has been compared to Franz Beckenbauer in terms of his popularity and influence in Pakistan.

Imran Khan was the top scorer in the final, scoring 72 runs.

Imran Khan played his last Test match for Pakistan in January 1992, against Sri Lanka.

Imran Khan retired from international cricket after leading Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup Final.

Imran Khan 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.

Imran Khan had the second-highest all-time batting average of 61.86 for a Test batsman playing at number six in the batting order.

Imran Khan has won the most Player of the Series awards in Test cricket for Pakistan, and ranks fourth overall in Test history.

Imran Khan achieved the all-rounder's triple in 75 Tests, becoming one of the first four players to reach this milestone.

Imran Khan announced his return as a domestic league coach in May 2003.

Imran Khan has written opinion pieces in the Indian magazine Outlook, The Guardian, and the BBC.

Imran Khan occasionally appeared as a cricket commentator on the Star TV network.

In 2004, when the Indian cricket team toured Pakistan, Imran Khan appeared as a commentator on TEN Sports' special live show, Straight Drive.

On 23 November 2005, Imran Khan was appointed as the Chancellor of the University of Bradford.

On 30 November 2014, Imran Khan stepped down, citing his "increasing political commitments".

However, Imran Khan was essentially compelled to resign due to mounting pressure from the union.

Imran Khan served as UNICEF's Special Representative for Sports and promoted health and immunisation programmes in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The money was raised by Imran Khan through touring the country and appealing for contributions, with the majority of donations coming from the poor.

Imran Khan was offered political positions several times during his cricketing career.

Nawaz Sharif invited Imran Khan to join his political party, offering him the position of second-in-command and guaranteeing 30 seats in the national parliament.

In 1993, Imran 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, Imran Khan joined hands with former Inter-Services Intelligence chief Hamid Gul and Muhammad Ali Durrani, who was heading Pasban, a breakaway wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.

However, Imran Khan soon became uncomfortable with the idea of being seen as a puppet of Gul, which led to his departure from the group.

Authorities spread rumours that Imran Khan was suspected of embezzling hospital funds and was being investigated for tax irregularities.

On 25 April 1996, Imran Khan founded a political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

Imran 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.

Imran Khan was the only member of his party to win a seat in that election.

On 6 May 2005, Imran 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 Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba.

Imran Khan preaches democracy one day but gives a vote to reactionary mullahs the next.

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.

On 2 October 2007, as part of the All Parties Democratic Movement, Imran 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.

On 3 November 2007, Imran Khan was put under house arrest after president Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan.

At the rally, Imran 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.

Imran Khan was arrested during the protest and was sent to the Central Jail, Dera Ghazi Khan, where he spent a week before being released.

On 6 October 2012, Imran 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.

On 21 April 2013, Imran Khan launched his election campaign from Lahore, where he addressed thousands of supporters at The Mall.

Imran Khan announced that he would pull Pakistan out of the US-led war on terror and bring peace to the Pashtun tribal belt.

Imran Khan 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.

Imran Khan concluded his campaign in South Punjab's Seraiki belt by addressing rallies in various cities.

Imran 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.

Imran Khan's party emerged as the leading party in the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The day after the elections, Asad Umar, a leader from his party, announced that Imran Khan had conceded defeat to PML.

Imran Khan assumed the role of parliamentary leader of his party in the National Assembly of Pakistan following the 2013 elections.

Imran 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.

Imran 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.

Senior PTI member at the time, Javed Hashmi, alleged that Imran Khan had been instructed by the army to coordinate his protests with the Pakistan Awami Tehreek, led by Qadri.

Imran Khan urged his supporters to burn electricity bills, refuse to pay taxes, and take part in widespread civil disobedience.

Protesters from Imran Khan's PTI forced their way into the state-run television channel PTV's studios in Islamabad, creating chaos in the heart of Pakistan's capital.

Imran Khan accepted the commission's findings but expressed reservations over not having received a copy.

Imran Khan campaigned against Nawaz Sharif in the wake of the Panama Papers leaks in 2016, which revealed offshore companies linked to the Sharif family.

Imran Khan led protests, filed petitions through his party, and called for Sharif's resignation, citing allegations of corruption.

Imran Khan's party petitioned the Supreme Court regarding the Panama Papers case to investigate allegations of corruption involving Sharif's family.

Imran Khan described the case as a "defining moment" for the country.

On 7 April 2017, Imran Khan criticised Pakistan's decision to support the Afghan jihad in the 1980s.

Imran Khan contested the 2018 Pakistani general election from NA-35, NA-53, NA-95, NA-131, and NA-243.

Imran 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.

On 20 May 2018, Imran Khan's party announced a 100-day agenda ahead of the 2018 general elections.

Imran Khan said that his inspiration was to build Pakistan as a humanitarian state based on the principles of the first Islamic state of Medina.

Imran Khan 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.

Imran Khan promised an investigation into the allegations of rigging.

Imran Khan expressed his desire for a united Pakistan and pledged not to victimise his political opponents.

Imran Khan said that everyone would be equal before the law.

Imran Khan 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.

Imran Khan nominated Mahmood Imran Khan as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sardar Usman Buzdar for Chief Minister of Punjab.

Imran Khan's party nominated Asad Qaiser as Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan and PML-Q leader and former Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan Pervaiz Elahi for the slot of Speaker of the Punjab Assembly.

Imran Khan was sworn in as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan on 18 August 2018 after his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, won the 2018 Pakistani general election.

Imran Khan initially held the Ministry of Interior portfolio after forming his cabinet.

Imran Khan's government faced significant economic challenges after taking office in 2018, inheriting a twin balance of payments and debt crisis.

Imran Khan's administration sought to stabilize the economy through a mix of austerity measures, structural reforms, and a $6 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

In September 2018, Imran Khan endorsed Nisar's initiative and urged overseas Pakistanis to contribute through voluntary donations.

Imran 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.

In September 2019, Imran Khan stated that Trump had asked him to facilitate US-Iran talks and that Imran Khan had spoken to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Trump later stated that Imran Khan expressed a desire to mediate and they had a good relationship.

Imran Khan later visited both Iran and Saudi Arabia to ease tensions between the two nations.

Imran Khan expressed support for Turkey during the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria.

Imran Khan's government improved relations with Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, with Pakistan securing debt relief and diplomatic engagement.

Imran Khan's 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.

In February 2022, Imran Khan became the first Pakistani prime minister in two decades to visit Moscow, seeking to strengthen economic ties and address Pakistan's energy needs.

Imran Khan's 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.

Imran Khan said that the visit to Russia was pre-planned and aimed at fostering neutrality in global alliances.

Imran Khan later criticised Western envoys who urged Pakistan to support the UN resolution against Russia.

Imran Khan's government launched an anti-corruption campaign aimed at addressing elite political corruption.

The Cabinet Division yearbook prepared in May 2022 revealed that the Assets Recovery Unit, established by Imran 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.

Imran Khan said Munir's proposed investigation was not the reason for his removal.

In October 2020, Imran 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.

In 2021, Imran 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".

Imran Khan's government supported the restoration and construction of religious sites for minorities.

Imran Khan's government supported the construction and renovation of Sikh shrines, including the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

Imran Khan formally inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor on 9 November 2019, providing visa-free access for Indian Sikh pilgrims.

Imran Khan's government introduced the Single National Curriculum to standardise the education system, initially targeting classes 1 to 5.

Imran Khan's government responded to a severe locust infestation between 2019 and 2020, declaring a national emergency and implementing measures like aerial spraying.

Imran Khan stated that preparations had begun in January 2020 in anticipation of the virus's arrival from China.

Analyst Ayesha Siddiqa described Imran Khan as appearing confused and dependent on the military, which made key decisions without his involvement.

Imran Khan launched Pakistan's largest welfare programme, distributing a lump sum of Rs12,000 to 10 million low-income citizens under the Ehsaas Programme.

Imran Khan 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.

Imran Khan argued that strict lockdowns would devastate Pakistan's economy and lead to starvation.

Imran 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.

In May 2020, Imran Khan claimed the lockdown decision had been forced by the elite, without considering the poor.

In June 2018, before Imran Khan became Prime Minister, Pakistan was placed on the FATF grey list due to deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.

Imran Khan's government introduced the Anti-Terrorism Bill 2020 in Parliament.

Imran Khan criticized the opposition for blocking the bills, accusing them of seeking an NRO.

Imran Khan credited his government for the achievement, particularly his former energy minister, Hammad Azhar, who led the FATF Coordination Committee.

On 8 March 2022, opposition parties submitted a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, citing his government's mismanagement of the economy and rising inflation.

Subsequently, the new government held another National Security Council meeting, rejecting the claim that Imran Khan's government was removed through a foreign conspiracy.

Imran Khan said that all purchases were lawfully declared in his tax returns and wealth statements.

On 3 November 2022, Imran Khan was shot in the leg in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad while leading a march to Islamabad to demand early elections.

Imran Khan was rushed to a hospital in Lahore, where doctors stated that he was in stable condition.

Imran 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, although he did not present any evidence to substantiate these claims.

Federal Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb refuted Imran Khan's charges, questioning how he could demand the resignation of these officials before an investigation had even begun.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah rejected Imran Khan's accusations, calling them grievous.

Imran Khan alleged that a trap was set at the Federal Judicial Complex on 18 March 2023, where he arrived for a Toshakhana case hearing.

Imran Khan said that his colleague signaled him to escape, understanding the situation to be a trap.

Imran Khan claimed that the Inter-Services Intelligence had taken control of the area around the FJC the night before.

Imran Khan said the purpose of 20 unknown individuals in plain shalwar kameez was another attempt on his life, similar to the Wazirabad attack.

Imran Khan 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.

Imran Khan 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.

Imran Khan was granted protected bail and released on the same day, meaning he could not be re-arrested on those charges for two weeks.

On 5 August 2023, Imran Khan was arrested for the second time and sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of misusing his premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than 140 million rupees.

The Federal Investigation Agency registered a case against Imran Khan for sharing information on the alleged cypher and leaking state secrets, and thereby violating the Official Secrets Act.

Imran Khan's cell was cleaned daily by a designated sanitary worker, and additional security personnel were deployed for his safety.

On 30 January 2024, Imran Khan was convicted and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment over the case.

Imran Khan reacted by urging voters to "take revenge for every injustice with your vote" in the 2024 Pakistani general election on 8 February.

The next day, Imran Khan was convicted and sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment for the Toshakhana case, which involved the illegal sale of state gifts given to him and his wife, Bushra Bibi, when he was prime minister.

On 8 February, a PTI official said Imran Khan had been allowed to vote in prison for the 2024 Pakistani general election using a postal ballot.

On 30 May 2024, Imran Khan told the Supreme Court that he was living in solitary confinement and the government had put restrictions on his meeting with lawyers and family members.

Imran Khan remained in prison due to his conviction for a breach of the marriage laws.

Imran Khan remained in prison and was then arrested on charges related to the 2023 riots.

In June 2024, a United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for Imran Khan's release, arguing that his detention was arbitrary and politically motivated.

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

On 17 January 2025, Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison by an accountability court in the Al-Qadir Trust case, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, received a seven-year jail term.

The BBC reported that "silent support" for Imran Khan was still strong.

Imran Khan has said that his imprisonment has political motivations, alleging involvement by the Pakistan Armed Forces and the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Imran Khan further stated that the ISI is responsible for his conditions in jail and suggested that they were involved in attempts to make his imprisonment harsher.

Imran Khan has stated that he deeply regretted trusting General Bajwa and implicated him in causing the country's turmoil.

Imran Khan's candidacy has gained attention, with supporters promoting the campaign on social media.

Imran Khan's supporters argue these charges are politically motivated, critics suggested that his legal battles and the broader political context might distract from his ability to focus on the responsibilities of the role.

Legal analysis from King's Counsel Hugh Southey of Matrix Chambers, as well as policy advocacy group Beltway Grid, said that Oxford's regulations set standards of integrity and impartiality that Imran Khan did not meet.

Imran Khan sold it in 2003 to purchase nearly 35 acres in Islamabad, where he built a farmhouse.

Imran Khan sold his property in Ferozewala for Rs70 million.

Imran Khan had Rs50.66 million in a bank account in Pakistan and Rs10.99 million in cash.

Imran Khan's declared assets included four goats valued at Rs200,000.

Imran Khan owns over a dozen properties, mostly inherited, including agricultural land and his home in Zaman Park.

Imran Khan made a down payment of Rs11.97 million for the apartment on Shahrah-e-Dastoor and listed Rs11.47 million in expenses for his home in Bani Gala.

Imran Khan declared that he does not own a vehicle.

The board noted that Imran Khan had been exempt from paying for some years.

In January 2022, the FBR published its 2019 tax directory for parliamentarians, disclosing that Imran Khan paid 9.8 million in taxes.

Imran Khan is described as a "firebrand nationalist" in the context of his political transformation and campaign speeches.

Imran Khan is described as employing populist rhetoric, combining promises of economic reforms, anti-elite messaging, and appeals to religious values.

Imran Khan's proclaimed political platform and declarations include Islamic values, to which he rededicated himself in the 1990s; leftist economics, with the promise of addressing economic disparity and promoting social welfare; decreased bureaucracy and the implementation of anti-corruption laws to create and ensure a clean government; the establishment of an independent judiciary; overhaul of the country's police system; and an anti-militant vision for a democratic Pakistan.

At a rally in May 2006, Khan criticized General Musharraf for "licking George W Bush's shoes".

Imran Khan further stated that Hosni Mubarak and Hamid Karzai were puppets sitting on the Muslim world.

Imran Khan said that these liberals supported the bombardment and drone attacks on villages.

Imran Khan added that it was the liberals who backed the United States' policies including the War on Terror that had contributed to the rise of extremism in the country.

In March 1998, it was reported that Imran Khan was scheduled to host a dinner for then Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov in London.

In November 1999, Imran Khan condemned the United Nations for failing to stop Russian "atrocities" in Chechnya.

On Pakistan Day 2011, before a Pakistan-West Indies match at Mirpur Stadium in Bangladesh, Imran Khan became the first Pakistani leader to demand an official apology for the atrocities committed in 1971 by the Pakistan Army.

In January 2012, Imran Khan claimed in an interview that he was on the last flight out of Dhaka before the Pakistan Army launched the assault for Operation Searchlight on 25 March 1971, while he was there for a cricket match.

Imran Khan's perceived sympathy towards the Taliban, as well as his criticism of the US-led war on terror, has led to him being labeled "Taliban Khan" by critics.

Imran Khan ruled out a military solution to the conflict and denied the possibility of a fourth war between India and Pakistan over the disputed mountainous region.

On 21 November 2015, Imran Khan sent a letter to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, urging her to forgive Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, leader of the Bangladesh National Party.

Imran Khan claimed there was "overwhelming" evidence that Chowdhury was studying at Punjab University during the 1971 War, making it impossible for him to have committed war crimes.

On 8 January 2016, Imran Khan visited the embassies of Iran and Saudi Arabia in Islamabad and met their head of commissions to understand their stances about the conflict that engulfed both nations after the Execution of Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia.

Imran Khan urged the Government of Pakistan to play a positive role to resolve the matter between both countries.

Imran Khan said that his government was negotiating a peace deal with the Pakistani Taliban with the help of the Afghan Taliban.

Imran Khan became known as a socialite in English high society, and sported a playboy image among the British press and paparazzi due to his "non-stop partying" at London nightclubs such as Annabel's and Tramp, although he said he hated English pubs and that he never drank alcohol.

On 18 March 2012, Salman Rushdie criticised Imran Khan for refusing to attend the India Today Conference because of Rushdie's attendance.

Imran Khan cited the "immeasurable hurt" that Rushdie's writings have caused Muslims around the world.

Imran Khan was close to Ahmed Shuja Pasha, another former ISI chief.

Clary said that, during the 2014 Tsunami March and sit-in led by Imran Khan, there were widespread allegations of the involvement of then-serving ISI chief Zaheer-ul-Islam.

Since 2022, Imran 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.

Swain said that Imran Khan had become the military's strongest critic with the potential to reform the military's historically unchecked power.

Imran 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".

In 2010, a Pakistani production house produced a biographical film based on Imran Khan's life, titled Kaptaan: The Making of a Legend.

The brief clip from the rally shows red-and-green party flags along with a poster of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who was the most popular opposition leader.

Imran Khan denied the allegations and expressed support for Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's proposal to form a special committee to investigate the harassment claims made by Gulalai.

Imran Khan stated that he refrained from further commenting on the issue to avoid impacting Gulalai's life but welcomed an investigation into the matter.

Imran Khan called for scrutiny of a private media group's Editor-in-Chief's phone records, alleging that the issue was raised after four years for political reasons.

Imran Khan criticised the PML-N, referencing past incidents involving figures like Nusrat Bhutto, Jemima Goldsmith, and Sita White, and accused the party of using such controversies for political gains.

Raoof stated that Imran Khan's government had taken "groundbreaking" measures to increase women's rights and that Imran Khan was attempting to stir a discussion through his statements.

Imran Khan said "the idea of human rights is different in every society," giving the example of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which borders Afghanistan.

In 2022, during his speech, Imran Khan referenced a clip of Maryam Nawaz's speech, in which she mentioned his name multiple times.

Imran Khan 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.

Imran Khan has published six works of non-fiction, including an autobiography co-written with Patrick Murphy.

Imran Khan periodically wrote editorials on cricket and Pakistani politics in several leading Pakistani and British newspapers.

Imran Khan has penned op-eds in various media outlets, including CNN where he advocated for conversation and restoration of damaged natural ecosystems.