Imran Khan was born on October 5, 1952, in Lahore, Pakistan, into a wealthy and influential Pashtun family. His father, Ikramullah Khan Niazi, was a civil engineer and a senior bureaucrat, while his mother, Shaukat Khanum, was a housewife and a social worker. He had four sisters, Aleema, Rani, Rubina, and Uzma.
Imran Khan received his early education from Aitchison College, Lahore, an elite boarding school for boys. He was a shy and quiet student, who excelled in sports, especially cricket. He was inspired by his cousins, Javed Burki and Majid Khan, who were both famous cricketers. He also developed an interest in reading and poetry, and was fond of the works of Allama Iqbal, the national poet of Pakistan.
Imran Khan moved to England in 1969, where he attended the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, for his O-levels and A-levels. He then enrolled at Keble College, Oxford, where he studied philosophy, politics, and economics. He graduated in 1975, with a second-class degree. He also played cricket for Oxford University, and became the captain of the team in 1974. He was awarded the prestigious Blue, a sporting honour given to Oxford athletes.
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| Royal Grammer School, Worcester |
Imran Khan made his debut for the Pakistan national cricket team in 1971, at the age of 18, against England in Birmingham. However, he did not perform well, and was dropped from the team. He returned to the team in 1976, after improving his skills and fitness. He soon became one of the best fast bowlers and all-rounders in the world, and was nicknamed the “Lion of Lahore”. He was also known for his charismatic and flamboyant personality, and his popularity among the fans and the media.
Imran Khan became the captain of the Pakistan cricket team in 1982, and led the team to many victories and achievements. He was regarded as a visionary and inspirational leader, who transformed the team into a formidable force. He also mentored many young and talented players, such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Inzamam-ul-Haq. He retired from cricket in 1987, but came back in 1988, at the request of the president of Pakistan, General Zia-ul-Haq. He finally retired in 1992, after leading Pakistan to its first and only Cricket World Cup title, defeating England in the final. He was the most successful captain of Pakistan, with 14 test wins and 75 ODI wins. He also scored 3,807 runs and took 362 wickets in test matches, and scored 3,709 runs and took 182 wickets in ODI matches. He is widely considered as one of the greatest cricketers of all time.
Imran Khan had a controversial and colourful personal life, which attracted a lot of attention and criticism. He was known for his playboy lifestyle, and his relationships with many famous and beautiful women, such as Zeenat Aman, Emma Sergeant, Susannah Constantine, and Sita White. He also faced allegations of fathering an illegitimate daughter, Tyrian, with Sita White, which he denied. He married Jemima Goldsmith, a British heiress and socialite, in 1995, and had two sons with her, Sulaiman and Qasim. He divorced Jemima in 2004, citing the difficulties of living in different countries. He married Reham Khan, a British-Pakistani journalist, in 2015, but divorced her after 10 months, amid rumours of domestic abuse and political interference. He married Bushra Maneka, a spiritual adviser and a divorcee, in 2018, and has remained with her since then.
Imran Khan entered politics in 1996, when he founded his own party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which means Movement for Justice. He campaigned against corruption, nepotism, and misrule in Pakistan, and advocated for democracy, accountability, and social welfare. He also supported the causes of education, health, and environment, and established the first cancer hospital in Pakistan, named after his mother, who died of cancer. He faced many challenges and obstacles in his political career, such as lack of funds, media coverage, and public support. He also faced accusations of being a puppet of the military establishment, and of having links with the Taliban and other extremist groups. He also faced several legal cases and physical attacks, which he survived.
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| Imran Khan of Pakistan celebrates after taking the wicket to seal Pakistan's World Cup triumph in 1992. The win made him a hero to Pakistan's youth. [Joe Mann/Allsport/Getty] |
Imran Khan rose to prominence in 2011, when he led a massive rally in Lahore, which attracted hundreds of thousands of people. He became the main challenger to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by Nawaz Sharif, and the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by Asif Ali Zardari. He contested the 2013 general election, but lost to the PML-N, which formed the government. He alleged that the election was rigged, and staged a long and violent protest in Islamabad, demanding a re-election. He also opposed the government’s policies on terrorism, economy, and foreign affairs, and criticized the role of the judiciary and the media. He gained more popularity and support, especially among the youth and the urban middle class.
Imran Khan won the 2018 general election, after the PML-N government was ousted by the Supreme Court on corruption charges. He formed a coalition government with the support of some smaller parties and independent candidates. He became the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan, and the first one to be elected from his own party. He promised to create a “new Pakistan”, based on the principles of justice, merit, and welfare. He also vowed to fight corruption, poverty, and extremism, and to improve the relations with the neighbouring and regional countries, especially India, Afghanistan, China, and the United States. He faced many difficulties and challenges in fulfilling his promises, such as economic crisis, political opposition, judicial activism, media criticism, and security threats. He also faced some controversies and scandals, such as his alleged misuse of official helicopters, his alleged interference in the appointment of the army chief, and his alleged involvement in the Ojhri Camp disaster.
Imran Khan’s future prospects are uncertain and unpredictable, as he faces a lot of pressure and uncertainty from various sources. He has to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the health and economy of the country. He has to cope with the rising inflation, unemployment, and debt, which have eroded the living standards of the people. He has to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has imposed strict conditions for providing financial assistance to Pakistan. He has to balance the interests and expectations of his coalition partners, who have different agendas and demands. He has to maintain a cordial and cooperative relationship with the military establishment, which has a significant influence and control over the politics and security of Pakistan. He has to face the opposition and resistance from the PML-N and the PPP, who have formed an alliance to oust him from power. He has to address the grievances and aspirations of the various ethnic, religious, and regional groups, who have expressed their discontent and dissatisfaction with his policies and performance. He has to resolve the conflicts and disputes with India, Afghanistan, and other countries,
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