Who is Imran Khan, likely the next prime minister of Pakistan

Imran Khan believes the "most viable" policy to ensure peace in the region was to cooperate with India, including on the Kashmir issue. The PTI has prepared a 100-day plan to meet serious economic and administrative woes faced by the country, and on the foreign policy and national defence front, the party's manifesto promises to work on a blueprint towards resolving the Kashmir issue within the parameters of the UN Security Council resolutions. On combating terrorism, it promises to take immediate steps to reform the criminal judicial system.

Imran Khan, 65, became a Member of Parliament in the 2002 elections, and again got elected to the National Assembly in the 2013 elections. His party also emerged as the second largest in Pakistan by popular vote. Image source: Reuters

Who is Imran Khan? Well, he started off as a rich person studying in England and turned himself into a superstar cricketer and thereafter, a politician. As Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is emerging as the single largest party in Pakistan's National Assembly, curiosity about former cricketer-turned politician's has also increased. Khan, who is dubbed as one of Pakistan's greatest cricketers for transforming his shaky, but talented, team into champions in the 1992 Cricket ODI World Cup, today proved himself as an inspiring leader in politics also by leading his party to the top spot in the general elections. He has claimed victory in the polls, but an official announcement is pending.

The Oxford-educated Pasthun launched the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party in 1996, but strived hard to break the dominance of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) - the two main political parties that dominated Pakistan's political scene.

Khan, 65, became a Member of Parliament in the 2002 elections, and again got elected to the National Assembly in the 2013 elections. His party also emerged as the second largest in Pakistan by popular vote.

In May 2014, Khan alleged that the polls were rigged in favour of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz led by then prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He led a rally of his supporters from Lahore to Islamabad, in August 2014, demanding Sharif's resignation and investigation into alleged electoral fraud.

Within a month, he entered into an alliance with Pakistani-origin Canadian cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri with both pressing for dismissal of the Sharif government. The violent protests ended after Khan and Qadiri entered into an agreement with the Sharif government to set up a judicial commission to probe the allegations of poll rigging.

However, during his campaign in the 2018 elections, Imran Khan promised to crackdown on corruption, enact anti-poverty programmes, improve healthcare and education and turn his country into an Islamic welfare state. Khan, who is believed to have the backing of the powerful military, has vowed to make a 'Naya Pakistan' which would be an Islamic welfare state.

He believes the "most viable" policy to ensure peace in the region was to cooperate with India, including on the Kashmir issue. The PTI has prepared a 100-day plan to meet serious economic and administrative woes faced by the country, and on the foreign policy and national defence front, the party's manifesto promises to work on a blueprint towards resolving the Kashmir issue within the parameters of the UN Security Council resolutions. On combating terrorism, it promises to take immediate steps to reform the criminal judicial system.

As a politician, Khan's vision is to turn Pakistan into a just society, based on humane values, by creating an independent and honest judiciary that will uphold democracy, protect human rights and ensure the rule of law and, by promoting a merit based system that provides equal opportunity to all, according to Khan's profile on his party's website.

Once touted as Pakistan's most eligible bachelor for his rugged Pathani good looks, Khan married thrice. His previous marriages ended in divorce. His first marriage was with Jemima Goldsmith, daughter of a British billionaire, in 1995, which lasted 9 years. Khan has two sons from her. His second marriage with TV anchor Reham Khan in 2015 ended after a brief 10 months.

Early this year, he married for the third time, and this time with his "spiritual guide" Bushra Maneka.

Born in Mianwali in 1952 to Ikramullah Khan Niazi and Shaukat Khanum, he attended Aitchison College in Lahore and the Royal Grammar School Worcester in England. In 1972, he enrolled in Keble College, Oxford where he studied philosophy, politics and economics, graduating with honours in 1975.

Imran Khan played Test cricket for Pakistan between 1971 and 1992, and was captain of the national team when they won the World Cup in 1992.

His father descended from the Pashtun (Pathan) Niazi tribe of the Shermankhel clan, but his family is settled in Lahore. He still considers his background Pathan as per his autobiography.

Khan, who has more than eight million Twitter followers, tweeted on Tuesday encouraging people to vote, "People of Pakistan must come out and vote tomorrow in this historic election." "This is the first time in 4 decades the nation has a chance to defeat the entrenched status quo. Don't miss this opportunity,” he added.

As Khan is set to become the next Pakistan Prime Minister, his former wife Jemima Goldsmith today hailed his poll victory as "an incredible lesson in tenacity".

In a tweet, she recalled how Khan took a plunge into politics in 1996 and launched the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief. "(Twenty-two) years later, after humiliations, hurdles and sacrifices, my sons` father is Pakistan`s next PM. It`s an incredible lesson in tenacity, belief and refusal to accept defeat. The challenge now is to remember why he entered politics in the 1st place. Congratulations," she tweeted.

She also reportedly said that she remembered Khan`s first election in 1997 -- "untested, idealistic and politically naive", adding "I waited up for the call in Lahore with three month old Sulaiman, who I had lugged around the country. "Eventually he called. 'It's a clean sweep' and after my gasp, '? the other way'. He roared with (a) laughter."

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Jemima, a British TV, film and documentary producer, journalist and campaigner, divorced amicably, ending the nine-year marriage because it was "difficult for her to adapt to the political life of Imran Khan in Pakistan". She returned to Britain with their two sons -- Sulaiman Isa Khan and Qasim Khan.

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