Discover the defining moments in the early life of Imran Khan. From birth to education, explore key events.
Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi is a prominent Pakistani figure known for his careers in both sports and politics. He captained the Pakistani cricket team to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup before transitioning to politics. In 1996, he founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party and served as the 19th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022. He is also recognized for his philanthropic work.
In 1947, Imran Khan's maternal family migrated to Zaman Park, Lahore, after the Independence of Pakistan.
In 2010, Imran Khan reflected on growing up hating India due to the massacres of 1947 during the partition.
Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi was born in October 1952. He is a Pakistani politician, philanthropist, and former cricketer.
Some sources state Imran Khan was born in November 1952, but Khan clarifies the date was written erroneously on his passport.
In 1970, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto contested in four constituencies and won in three, a record that Imran Khan surpassed in 2018.
In September 1971, Imran Khan arrived at the Royal Grammar School Worcester in England.
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.
In 1972, Imran Khan enrolled in Keble College, Oxford, to study philosophy, politics, and economics.
In 1975, Imran Khan graduated from Keble College, Oxford, with a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.
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.
In 1984, Imran Khan recovered from a stress fracture in his shin, thanks to an experimental treatment funded by the Pakistani government.
In 1987, President Zia-ul-Haq offered Imran Khan a political position in the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), which Khan declined.
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.
In 2013, Imran Khan recalled experiencing Bangladeshi affection during a 1989 exhibition cricket match in Mirpur.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In 1995, after their relationship ended, Kristiane Backer converted to Islam following a meeting with Imran Khan.
On April 1996, Imran Khan founded the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In 2003, after the invasion of Iraq began, Khan participated in a protest held in Hyde Park, London, opposing the war.
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.
In November 2005, Imran Khan was appointed as the chancellor of the University of Bradford, succeeding Betty Lockwood.
In 2005, Declan Walsh of The Guardian characterized Imran Khan as a "miserable politician," pointing out his inconsistent political stances since 1996.
In 2005, Imran Khan signed an agreement with the University of Bradford, making Namal its associate 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.
In 2006, political commentator Najam Sethi noted that Imran Khan's story involves backtracking on previous statements, which affected his public image.
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.
In April 2008, Namal College officially opened. The college was built by the Mianwali Development Trust and aimed to tackle unemployment.
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.
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.
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.
In October 2011, Khan addressed over 100,000 supporters in Lahore, challenging the government's policies and referring to his movement as a "tsunami."
In December 2011, Khan held a successful public gathering of thousands of supporters in Karachi.
In 2011, Imran Khan's autobiography was published, detailing his transition from cricketer to politician and the challenges he faced in his philanthropic work.
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."
In October 2012, Khan joined a vehicle caravan of protesters from Islamabad to South Waziristan against US drone missile strikes.
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.
In March 2013, Khan introduced the Naya Pakistan Resolution (New Pakistan) at the start of his election campaign.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
In March 2015, Khan agreed with the Sharif administration to establish a judicial commission to investigate election rigging allegations, facilitated by the military.
In 2015, shoemaker Haji Nooruddin Shinwari gifted Imran Khan a pair of Peshawari chappals for his wedding, which boosted the footwear's popularity.
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.
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.
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.
In August 2018, Imran Khan became the 19th Prime Minister of Pakistan, serving until April 2022.
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."
As of 2018, Imran Khan resided in his farmhouse at Bani Gala and owned five pet dogs.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On November 9, 2019, Imran Khan formally inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor, providing visa-free access for Indian Sikh pilgrims.
In 2019, Christian Louboutin rebranded the Peshawari chappal as "Imran Sandals," leading to criticism for cultural appropriation and its subsequent removal from the website.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In FY2019-2020, the government saw a record-high remittance inflow of $23.1 billion. However, exports contracted and debt continued to rise.
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.
As of 15 May 2021, the Imran Khan Foundation (IKF) has ceased operations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
On 3 November 2022, Khan was shot in the leg in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad while leading a march to Islamabad.
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.
A Gallup Pakistan survey published in March 2023 indicated an increase in approval ratings for Imran Khan to 61%.
In the fiscal year ending 30 June 2023, Imran Khan paid Rs. 15.59 million (equivalent to Rs. 79 million in 2021) in income tax.
In August 2023, the government submitted a report to the Supreme Court of Pakistan detailing Khan's daily meals and prison conditions.
In 2023, Imran Khan resigned as chairman of the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
In June 2024, it was reported that Imran Khan has been writing a book while imprisoned, completing over 300 pages.