Childhood and Education Journey of Imran Khan in Timeline

1947: Family Migration

In 1947, Imran Khan's maternal family migrated to Zaman Park, Lahore, after the Independence of Pakistan.

1947: Childhood Experiences related to India-Pakistan Partition

In 2010, Imran Khan reflected on growing up hating India due to the massacres of 1947 during the partition.

October 1952: Imran Khan's Birth

Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi was born in October 1952. He is a Pakistani politician, philanthropist, and former cricketer.

November 1952: Conflicting Birth Date

Some sources state Imran Khan was born in November 1952, but Khan clarifies the date was written erroneously on his passport.

1970: Reference to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's election wins

In 1970, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto contested in four constituencies and won in three, a record that Imran Khan surpassed in 2018.

September 1971: Arrival at Royal Grammar School Worcester

In September 1971, Imran Khan arrived at the Royal Grammar School Worcester in England.

1971: Part-Time Job in England

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Imran Khan took a part-time job at a store in England to support himself while studying.

1971: Khan's initial support of the 1971 operation

On Pakistan Day in 2013, Imran Khan reflected that he initially supported the Pakistan Army's 1971 operation, but later learned the truth from Bengali friends.

1972: Enrolled in Keble College

In 1972, Imran Khan enrolled in Keble College, Oxford, to study philosophy, politics, and economics.

1975: Graduation from Keble College

In 1975, Imran Khan graduated from Keble College, Oxford, with a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.

1983: Imran Khan suffers stress fracture

In 1983, during the Test series against India, Imran Khan suffered a stress fracture in his shin, which kept him out of cricket for over two years.

1984: Imran Khan recovers from injury

In 1984, Imran Khan recovered from a stress fracture in his shin, thanks to an experimental treatment funded by the Pakistani government.

1987: President Zia-ul-Haq offers Khan a political position

In 1987, President Zia-ul-Haq offered Imran Khan a political position in the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), which Khan declined.

1988: Imran Khan returns to captaincy after retirement

In 1988, Imran Khan was asked to return to the captaincy by the President of Pakistan, General Zia-ul-Haq, after previously retiring from international cricket. He announced his decision to rejoin the team on January 18.

1989: Experiences of Bangladeshi Affection

In 2013, Imran Khan recalled experiencing Bangladeshi affection during a 1989 exhibition cricket match in Mirpur.

1990: Offered Role in Bollywood Movie

In 1990, Dev Anand offered Imran Khan a role in his sports action-thriller movie Awwal Number, but Khan declined due to his lack of acting skills.

1991: Imran Khan founds the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre

In 1991, Imran Khan founded the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, a charity organization named after his mother. The hospital, Pakistan's first cancer hospital, was constructed using donations raised from all over the world.

1993: Imran Khan appointed ambassador for tourism

In 1993, Imran Khan was appointed as the ambassador for tourism in the caretaker government of Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi, holding the position for three months.

1994: Imran Khan joins and leaves Jamiat-e-Pasban

In 1994, Imran Khan joined the Jamiat-e-Pasban, a breakaway faction of Jamaat-e-Islami, but left the party after feeling uncomfortable being seen as a puppet of Hamid Gul.

1995: Kristiane Backer Converts to Islam

In 1995, after their relationship ended, Kristiane Backer converted to Islam following a meeting with Imran Khan.

April 1996: Founding of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

On April 1996, Imran Khan founded the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

1996: Entering Politics

In 1996, Declan Walsh of The Guardian observed that since Imran Khan entered politics, his "ideas and affiliations have swerved and skidded like a rickshaw in a rainshower."

1996: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Founding

In 1996, Imran Khan founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

1996: Imran Khan wins libel lawsuit

In 1996, Imran Khan successfully defended himself in a lawsuit brought forth by Ian Botham and Allan Lamb over libellous comments. The jury reached a 10–2 majority decision in favor of Khan.

1999: Support for General Musharraf's Coup

In 1999, Khan supported General Musharraf's Pakistani coup d'état, believing Musharraf would end corruption. Khan was offered the role of prime minister in 2002 but turned it down.

2001: Taliban Victory in the 2001-2021 war

Following the 2021 Fall of Kabul, Khan congratulated the Taliban for their victory in the 2001–2021 war, and urged the international community to support their new government. He also said that his government was negotiating a peace deal with the Pakistani Taliban with the help of the Afghan Taliban.

2001: Imran Khan auctions cricket memorabilia for flood victims

In 2001, following the Islamabad cloud burst and severe flooding in Pakistan, Imran Khan auctioned his signed cricket bat from the 1992 Cricket World Cup and the sweater he wore while playing cricket to raise funds for flood victims.

October 2002: Election to National Assembly and Support for Musharraf

In October 2002, Khan participated in the Pakistani general election and was elected from Mianwali. In the 2002 Pakistani referendum, Khan supported military dictator General Musharraf. He also served as a part of the Standing Committees on Kashmir and Public Accounts.

2003: Assets in 2003

In 2003, Imran Khan had a house in Zaman Park, Lahore, worth Rs. 29 million (US$100,000). He was also an investor, investing more than Rs. 40 million (US$140,000) in various businesses.

2003: Participation in Anti-War Protest

In 2003, after the invasion of Iraq began, Khan participated in a protest held in Hyde Park, London, opposing the war.

2003: Plan to establish cadet college abandoned after Anjum's death

In 2003, the plan to establish a cadet college in Mianwali was abandoned after the death of Air Vice Marshal Abdul Razzaq Anjum in an air crash.

November 2005: Imran Khan appointed chancellor of University of Bradford

In November 2005, Imran Khan was appointed as the chancellor of the University of Bradford, succeeding Betty Lockwood.

2005: Declan Walsh Describes Khan as "Miserable Politician"

In 2005, Declan Walsh of The Guardian characterized Imran Khan as a "miserable politician," pointing out his inconsistent political stances since 1996.

2005: Khan signs agreement with the University of Bradford

In 2005, Imran Khan signed an agreement with the University of Bradford, making Namal its associate college.

2006: Imran Khan announces vision to establish Namal College

In 2006, Imran Khan, then Chancellor of the University of Bradford, announced his vision to establish Namal College, a technical institution in Mianwali, aiming to tackle unemployment by providing young people with job skills.

2006: Najam Sethi Comments on Khan's Backtracking

In 2006, political commentator Najam Sethi noted that Imran Khan's story involves backtracking on previous statements, which affected his public image.

November 2007: House Arrest and Subsequent Arrest at Student Protest

In November 2007, Khan was put under house arrest after president Musharraf declared a state of emergency. He escaped, went into hiding, and was later arrested at a student protest and sent to Dera Ghazi Khan jail.

April 2008: Namal College officially opens

In April 2008, Namal College officially opened. The college was built by the Mianwali Development Trust and aimed to tackle unemployment.

2008: Revelation about Editing of "Indus Journey"

It was revealed in 2008 that Imran Khan's second book, Indus Journey: A Personal View of Pakistan, required heavy editing from the publisher Jeremy Lewis.

2010: Biographical Film "Kaptaan: The Making of a Legend" Released

In 2010, a Pakistani production house released a biographical film about Imran Khan's life, titled Kaptaan: The Making of a Legend, which depicted his cricket career, philanthropic efforts, and educational contributions.

June 2011: High Approval Rating and Descriptions of Khan

In June 2011, a Pew Research Center poll revealed Imran Khan had a 68% approval rating. Richard Leiby described Khan as an underdog, noting his pro-democracy liberal stance combined with ties to conservative Islamist parties. H.M. Naqvi compared Khan to a "Ron Paul figure," highlighting his lack of corruption and anti-establishment message.

October 2011: Massive Public Gathering in Lahore

In October 2011, Khan addressed over 100,000 supporters in Lahore, challenging the government's policies and referring to his movement as a "tsunami."

December 2011: Successful Public Gathering in Karachi

In December 2011, Khan held a successful public gathering of thousands of supporters in Karachi.

2011: Khan's Autobiography Published

In 2011, Imran Khan's autobiography was published, detailing his transition from cricketer to politician and the challenges he faced in his philanthropic work.

March 2012: Salman Rushdie Criticizes Khan for Refusing to Attend Conference

On 18 March 2012, Salman Rushdie criticized Imran Khan for declining to attend the India Today Conference due to Rushdie's presence. Khan cited the "immeasurable hurt" Rushdie's writings caused Muslims, leading Rushdie to suggest Khan was a "dictator in waiting."

October 2012: Protest Against US Drone Strikes

In October 2012, Khan joined a vehicle caravan of protesters from Islamabad to South Waziristan against US drone missile strikes.

2012: Pankaj Mishra Characterizes Khan's Conflicting Identities

In 2012, Pankaj Mishra of The New York Times described Imran Khan as embodying Pakistan's clashing identities. He noted that Khan's identification with the suffering masses, and attacks on affluent peers, were mocked as hypocritical by some.

March 2013: Introduction of Naya Pakistan Resolution

In March 2013, Khan introduced the Naya Pakistan Resolution (New Pakistan) at the start of his election campaign.

April 2013: Final Public Relations Campaign for 2013 Election

In April 2013, Khan launched his final public relations campaign for the 2013 Pakistani general election from Lahore, addressing thousands of supporters. He announced plans to pull Pakistan out of the war on terror and introduce a uniform education system.

July 2013: Contempt of Court Notice

In July 2013, Khan received a contempt of court notice for allegedly criticising the superior judiciary. The notice was discharged after Khan clarified his criticism was directed at the lower judiciary.

2013: Mohammed Hanif Comments on Khan's Support Base

After the 2013 Pakistani general election, Mohammed Hanif wrote in The Guardian that Imran Khan's support appeals mainly to the educated middle class, which is not large enough in Pakistan to form a majority.

May 2014: Call for Resignation of Election Commission Members

In May 2014, Khan called for the resignation of all members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and demanded a new ECP and punishment for those who allegedly stole the mandate of the masses.

August 2014: Rally to Islamabad and Demands for Prime Minister's Resignation

In August 2014, Khan led a rally of supporters from Lahore to Islamabad, demanding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation and investigation into alleged electoral fraud. The convoy was attacked, and protesters later entered the Red Zone, leading to violence and casualties.

September 2014: Ayesha Siddiqa on Khan's Political Tone

In September 2014, Ayesha Siddiqa commented on Imran Khan's change in political tone, cautioning him to consider how he would handle the consequences if he became prime minister.

November 2014: Imran Khan steps down as chancellor of University of Bradford

In November 2014, Imran Khan announced that he would step down as chancellor of the University of Bradford on November 30, citing his "increasing political commitments."

2014: PTI Rally Featured in Nickelback Music Video

In 2014, a music video by Nickelback for "Edge of a Revolution" featured a clip of a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally, including party flags and a poster of Imran Khan.

March 2015: Agreement for Judicial Commission

In March 2015, Khan agreed with the Sharif administration to establish a judicial commission to investigate election rigging allegations, facilitated by the military.

2015: Gift of Peshawari Chappals Boosts Popularity

In 2015, shoemaker Haji Nooruddin Shinwari gifted Imran Khan a pair of Peshawari chappals for his wedding, which boosted the footwear's popularity.

2017: Assets in 2017

By 2017, Imran Khan's assets included furniture worth Rs. 0.6 million (US$2,100) and livestock valued at Rs. 0.2 million (US$690). He had no vehicle registered in his name.

2017: Ayesha Gulalai Alleges Sexual Harassment

In 2017, Ayesha Gulalai, a member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accused party chairman Imran Khan of sending inappropriate text messages, leading her to resign from the party.

2017: Bani Gala Mansion

In 2017, Imran Khan owned a 300-kanal mansion in Bani Gala, Islamabad, worth Rs. 750 million (US$2.6 million), which he declared as a gift to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

May 2018: PTI announces 100-day agenda

In May 2018, Imran Khan's party, PTI, announced a 100-day agenda for a potential future government, focusing on reforms in various sectors including law and order, tribal areas, and relations with Baloch leaders.

August 2018: Imran Khan Becomes Prime Minister

In August 2018, Imran Khan became the 19th Prime Minister of Pakistan, serving until April 2022.

November 2018: Khan responds to Trump's accusations

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

2018: Residence at Bani Gala Farmhouse

As of 2018, Imran Khan resided in his farmhouse at Bani Gala and owned five pet dogs.

2018: Michael Kugelman Remarks on Imran Khan's Pro-Iran Statements

In 2018, following the Pakistani general election, Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center noted Imran Khan's overtly pro-Iran sentiments, stating it was unusual for a top Pakistani leader to express such sympathies towards Iran.

August 2019: Khan refuses engagement with India after Kashmir revocation

In August 2019, following the Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, Imran Khan refused to engage with India and twice denied Narendra Modi the use of Pakistani airspace.

September 2019: Khan offers to facilitate U.S.-Iran talks

In September 2019, Imran Khan stated that Trump had asked him to facilitate U.S.-Iran talks, though Trump later denied any formal mediation had been agreed upon. Khan visited both Iran and Saudi Arabia to ease tensions.

November 2019: Tax Payments

Documents revealed in November 2019 showed Imran Khan paid a total of Rs. 4 million (equivalent to Rs. 20 million in 2021) in taxes over 37 years.

November 2019: Inauguration of Kartarpur Corridor

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

2019: Christian Louboutin Rebrands Peshawari Chappal as "Imran Sandals"

In 2019, Christian Louboutin rebranded the Peshawari chappal as "Imran Sandals," leading to criticism for cultural appropriation and its subsequent removal from the website.

2019: Khan expresses support for Turkey, champions Afghan peace, and addresses stance on Israel

In 2019, Imran Khan expressed support for Turkey during its offensive into Syria, championed the Afghan peace process, and reiterated that Pakistan would not recognize Israel until a Palestinian state was established.

June 2020: Khan's Reference to Osama Bin Laden Sparks Criticism

During a June 2020 address to the National Assembly, Imran Khan's use of the term "martyred" for Osama bin Laden sparked criticism and accusations of sympathizing with extremism.

June 2020: Decrease in COVID-19 cases and emphasis on "smart lockdowns"

In June 2020, COVID-19 cases decreased in Pakistan, and the government emphasized the success of "smart lockdowns." However, health experts warned of a potential surge, and economic recovery faced challenges such as food insecurity and inflation.

December 2020: Economic recovery in manufacturing and construction identified by ADB

By December 2020, the Asian Development Bank identified economic recovery in manufacturing and construction in Pakistan, but food insecurity, inflation, and poor internet infrastructure continued to be significant challenges.

2020: Record-high remittance inflow

In FY2019-2020, the government saw a record-high remittance inflow of $23.1 billion. However, exports contracted and debt continued to rise.

February 2021: Exports grew, but trade deficit widened

In February 2021, Pakistan's exports grew by 9%, but the trade deficit widened. The government allowed duty-free imports of cotton yarn to address the cotton shortfall.

May 2021: The Imran Khan Foundation (IKF) ceases operations.

As of 15 May 2021, the Imran Khan Foundation (IKF) has ceased operations.

July 2021: Pakistan ranked third for pandemic normalcy

In July 2021, The Economist ranked Pakistan third for pandemic normalcy with a score of 84.4, but a rise in daily COVID-19 cases followed.

September 2021: Khan's UN Address Sparks Outrage Among Pashtuns

In September 2021, during his UN General Assembly address, Imran Khan's comments linking Pashtun nationalism with the Afghan Taliban prompted outrage and calls for an apology.

December 2021: Khan's Remarks on Girls' Education in Afghanistan Draw Criticism

In December 2021, during an OIC session, Imran Khan's statement that not allowing girls to study was part of Afghan culture led to criticism from figures like Hamid Karzai and Malala Yousafzai.

2021: Imran Khan Congratulates Taliban and Urges Support

Following the 2021 Fall of Kabul, Imran Khan congratulated the Taliban for their victory and called on the international community to support their new government. Khan also mentioned his government was negotiating a peace deal with the Pakistani Taliban.

2021: Khan's Comments on Women's Clothing Lead to Criticism

In 2021, Imran Khan faced criticism after suggesting women's clothing could incite sexual assault, stating "If a woman is wearing very few clothes it will have an impact on the man unless they are robots. It's common sense."

2021: Imran Khan Calls for Muslim Countries to Pressure Western Governments

In 2021, Imran Khan urged Muslim countries to pressure Western governments to criminalize insulting the Prophet Muhammad, comparing it to laws against Holocaust denial, and suggesting trade boycotts as a means of enforcement.

January 2022: Tax Directory Disclosure

On 3 January 2022, the FBR disclosed that Imran Khan paid Rs. 9.8 million (equivalent to Rs. 50 million in 2021) in taxes for 2019.

February 2022: Khan visits Moscow amidst Ukraine invasion

In February 2022, Imran Khan became the first Pakistani prime minister in two decades to visit Moscow, seeking to strengthen economic ties. His visit coincided with the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, drawing international criticism.

November 2022: Assassination Attempt on Khan

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

2022: Khan's Comments About Maryam Nawaz Spark Misogyny Accusations

In 2022, Imran Khan's remarks about Maryam Nawaz's repeated mentions of his name in her speeches were perceived as inappropriate and misogynistic, drawing widespread criticism.