Imran Khan: Looking back at the journey of former PM of Pakistan

Let's take a look at Imran Khan's journey from being one of Pakistan's best cricketers and favourite son of the soil to becoming its Prime Minister, who is now behind bars.

Imran Khan was born into a rich family in Lahore. He developed a liking for cricket very early and attributed his fitness to chasing kites in the streets of Lahore. Image: File/PTI

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday by the Pakistan Rangers outside the Islamabad High Court while he was appearing for a court hearing. But how did the national hero, who captained Pakistan to its first World Cup victory, land in such a situation?

Let's take a look at Imran Khan's journey from being one of Pakistan's best cricketers and favourite son of the soil to becoming its Prime Minister, who is now behind bars.

1952: Imran Khan was born into a rich family in Lahore. He developed a liking for cricket very early and attributed his fitness to chasing kites in the streets of Lahore.

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1971: Imran Khan makes his debut in a Test series against England to start his international cricket career at the age of 18.

1976–1982: After graduating from Oxford, Khan accepts a permanent position with the Pakistani national team. He stands out for being a superb bowler and an all-around athlete.

1982–1992: He is selected as Pakistan's national team captain.

1992: Khan captained his side to its first World Cup victory, defeating England in the final game. Later that year, he retired from the Pakistan cricket team.

1996: Imran Khan forms his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), often known as the "Movement for Justice."

2002: PTI wins only one seat, and Khan joins the National Assembly as a member.

2007: He is briefly detained for challenging General Pervez Musharraf's administration. Khan's populist views resonate with young people.

Also Read: Imran Khan arrest: Former Pakistan PM arrested from Islamabad High Court

2013: He was re-elected to the National Assembly. He promises to eradicate corruption and turn Pakistan into "Naya Pakistan."

2016: Imran Khan is charged with money laundering after allegedly accepting payments from abroad. Hanif Abbasi, the head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has filed a complaint against him.

2017: Imran Khan wins a Supreme Court decision in December.

2018: After helping his party win the general elections, Khan is appointed prime minister. He defeated Shehbaz Sharif, a PML-N candidate.

2021: Opposition leader, former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, defeats Pakistan's finance minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the Senate Election. Following Shaikh's defeat, Khan wins the trust vote in the National Assembly.

2022: PM Khan says he won't step down after the speaker calls for a meeting of the National Assembly to discuss a motion of no-trust. PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif introduced a no-trust motion against Khan in the National Assembly. On March 30, Khan lost his majority after a significant ally joined the opposition. President Arif Alvi dissolves the National Assembly on April 3. A hearing to reject the no-trust vote begins in the Supreme Court. Khan remained the caretaker prime minister.

Imran Khan lost the trust vote again and was ousted. Shehbaz Sharif-led PML-N forms government. Khan was then charged for expressing his intent to sue judges and police personnel in Islamabad during a speech. He was temporarily prohibited from holding public office in October after the electoral commission claimed that he had engaged in corrupt behaviour. He was shot in the leg in what appears to have been an assassination attempt in November while leading a protest caravan from the city of Lahore to Islamabad.

May 9, 2023: Imran Khan arrested by the Pakistan Rangers when he appeared for a hearing in the Islamabad High Court.

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