Imran Khan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Imran Khan HI(C) PP FRCPE
عمران خان
Khan in 2021
19th Prime Minister of Pakistan
In office 18 August 2018 – 10 April 2022
President	Mamnoon Hussain Arif Alvi
Preceded by	Nasirul Mulk (caretaker)
Succeeded by	Shehbaz Sharif
Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
In office 25 April 1996 – 2 December 2023
Vice-Chairman	Shah Mahmood Qureshi
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Gohar Ali Khan
Member of the National Assembly
In office 13 August 2018 – 21 October 2022
Preceded by	Obaidullah Shadikhel
Constituency	NA-95 Mianwali-I
Majority	113,523 (44.89%)
In office 19 June 2013 – 31 May 2018
Preceded by	Hanif Abbasi
Succeeded by	Sheikh Rashid Shafique
Constituency	NA-56 Rawalpindi-VII
Majority	13,268 (8.28%)
In office 10 October 2002 – 3 November 2007
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan
Constituency	NA-71 Mianwali-I
Majority	6,204 (4.49%)
Chancellor of the University of Bradford
In office 7 December 2005 – 8 December 2014
Preceded by	Betty Lockwood
Succeeded by	Kate Swann
Personal details
Born	Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi (1952-10-05) 5 October 1952 (age 72) Lahore, West Punjab, Pakistan
Political party	Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (since 1996)
Spouses	Jemima Goldsmith ​ ​ (m. 1995; div. 2004)​ Reham Khan ​ ​ (m. 2015; div. 2015)​ Bushra Bibi ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	2
Relatives	Family of Imran Khan
Residences	Bani Gala, Islamabad, Capital Territory Zaman Park, Lahore, Punjab
Education	Keble College, Oxford (B.A.)
Awards	See list
Signature
Nicknames	Kaptaan (Captain) Qaidi No. 804 (Prisoner No. 804)
Personal information Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) Batting Right-handed Bowling Right-arm fast Role All-rounder International information National side Pakistan (1971–1992) Test debut (cap 88) 3 June 1971 v England Last Test 2 January 1992 v Sri Lanka ODI debut (cap 175) 31 August 1974 v England Last ODI 25 March 1992 v England Career statistics Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 88 175 382 425 Runs scored 3,807 3,709 17,771 10,100 Batting average 37.69 33.41 36.79 33.22 100s/50s 6/18 1/19 30/93 5/66 Top score 136 102* 170 114* Balls bowled 19,458 7,461 65,224 19,122 Wickets 362 182 1287 507 Bowling average 22.81 26.61 22.32 22.31 5 wickets in innings 23 1 70 6 10 wickets in match 6 0 13 0 Best bowling 8/58 6/14 8/34 6/14 Catches/stumpings 28/– 36/– 117/– 84/– Medal record Men's Cricket Representing  Pakistan ICC Cricket World Cup Winner 1992 Australia and New Zealand ACC Asia Cup Runner-up 1986 Sri Lanka Source: ESPNcricinfo, 5 November 2014

Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani politician and former cricketer. He served as the 19th prime minister of Pakistan from August 2018 to April 2022. He also founded the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and was its chairman from 1996 to 2023.

Born in Lahore, Khan studied at Keble College, Oxford. He started his international cricket career in 1971 against England. Khan learned a special bowling technique called reverse swing bowling from Sarfraz Nawaz. He then taught this to Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, who made it famous.

In 1983, Khan was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year. He also helped introduce the idea of neutral umpires in cricket. Khan led Pakistan to their first Test series wins in India and England in 1987. He won the International Cricketer of the Year award in 1989.

Khan captained the Pakistan national cricket team for most of the 1980s and early 1990s. He led Pakistan to their first Cricket World Cup victory in 1992. He is known for his all-round skills in cricket. In 2009, he joined the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

After founding PTI in 1996, Khan won a seat in the National Assembly of Pakistan in 2002. PTI became a major party in the 2013 election. Five years later, in 2018, PTI formed a government with Khan as prime minister.

His government worked to improve Pakistan's economy and social programs. They launched initiatives like the Ehsaas Programme to help people in need. They also started the Plant for Pakistan initiative to plant trees. In April 2022, Khan became the first Pakistani prime minister to be removed from office by a no-confidence vote.

Since leaving office, Khan has faced various legal challenges. He was disqualified from holding office by the Election Commission of Pakistan in October 2022. In November 2022, he survived an assassination attempt at a political rally. He was arrested in May 2023 and later released. He has been involved in several court cases since then.

Early Life and Education

Khan with his uncle Javed Zaman, who later became his cricket mentor, around 1957.

Imran Khan was born in Lahore on 5 October 1952. He is the only son of Ikramullah Khan Niazi and Shaukat Khanum. He also has four sisters.

His family has Pathan roots from his father's side. His mother's family, the Burki community, has produced many cricketers. These include his cousins Javed Burki and Majid Khan.

Khan attended Aitchison College and Cathedral School in Lahore. In 1971, he went to the Royal Grammar School Worcester in England. He was very good at cricket there.

In 1972, Khan was accepted into Keble College, Oxford. He studied philosophy, politics, and economics, graduating in 1975. During the 1980s, he was inspired by writers like Muhammad Iqbal and Ali Shariati. Their ideas helped him understand Islam better.

Personal Life

Imran Khan was known for his social life before his first marriage. He was considered a very eligible bachelor.

He married Jemima Goldsmith on 16 May 1995 in Paris. They had another ceremony in London on 21 June. The couple had two sons, Sulaiman Isa and Kasim. They divorced on 22 June 2004. Jemima found it hard to adjust to life in Pakistan.

On 8 January 2015, Khan married British-Pakistani journalist Reham Khan. They announced their divorce on 22 October 2015.

In February 2018, PTI confirmed that Khan had married Bushra Bibi. Khan has said that Sufism has influenced his life for 30 years. This connection brought him closer to his wife. As of 2018, Khan owned five pet dogs.

Cricket Career

Khan as a test cricketer at a luncheon with Sydney University's Vice-Chancellor John Manning Ward before playing for the university club in 1984.

Khan started his first-class career at age 16 in Lahore. In the early 1970s, he played for Lahore teams. He also played for the University of Oxford's Blues Cricket team. From 1971 to 1976, Khan played for Worcestershire in England.

He made his Test cricket debut against England in June 1971. Three years later, in August 1974, he played his first One Day International (ODI) match. This was also against England.

Khan's bowling statistics as a cricketer from 1971 to 1991.

As a bowler, Khan learned the reverse swing technique from Sarfraz Nawaz. He then taught this skill to Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. From 1980 to 1988, Khan took 236 Test wickets. He had 18 five-wicket hauls and five 10-wicket hauls. His best Test bowling was 8 wickets for 58 runs against Sri Lanka in 1981–82.

Captaincy and World Cup Victory

In 1982, Khan became the captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. Under his leadership, Pakistan won a Test match in England for the first time in 28 years. In 1983, he was named a Wisden Cricketers of the Year. He also helped bring in neutral umpires for cricket matches. This helped make umpiring fairer.

In 1987, Khan led Pakistan to their first Test series win in India. They also won a series in England that same year. Khan retired from international cricket after the 1987 Cricket World Cup. However, President Zia-ul-Haq asked him to return as captain. Khan agreed and led Pakistan to their first Cricket World Cup victory in 1992.

Khan presenting the World Cup to the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, during a dinner held in the team's honour after their win in the 1992 World Cup.

In the 1992 World Cup final, Khan scored 72 runs. He also took the final wicket himself. This was a huge moment for Pakistan cricket. After the win, Khan said, "I told the boys they had to play as if they were cornered tigers."

Retirement and Career Statistics

Khan played his last Test match in January 1992. He retired from international cricket after the 1992 World Cup win.

He finished his career with 88 Test matches, scoring 3,807 runs. He took 362 wickets in Test cricket. He also played 175 ODI matches, scoring 3,709 runs. Khan is one of only a few players to achieve the "all-rounder's triple" (3,000 runs and 300 wickets) in Test cricket.

Post-Cricket Career

Khan at a political rally in Peshawar in 1996

After retiring from cricket, Khan became a commentator for Star TV. He also wrote articles for newspapers like Outlook and The Guardian.

Khan served as the chancellor of the University of Bradford between November 2005 and November 2014.

On 23 November 2005, Khan became the Chancellor of the University of Bradford. He stepped down from this role on 30 November 2014 due to his growing political work.

Philanthropy and Social Work

Khan has done a lot of charity work. He served as UNICEF's Special Representative for Sports. He promoted health and vaccination programs in several countries.

Khan fundraising for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, 1992

By 1994, Khan built Pakistan's first cancer hospital, the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. He named it after his mother, Shaukat Khanum. He raised over $25 million for the hospital through donations.

In December 2005, Khan helped establish Namal College in Mianwali. This college aims to provide technical and vocational education. Namal College officially opened in 2008.

In February 2006, Khan started The Imran Khan Foundation (IKF). In 2013, IKF provided emergency relief to displaced people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They gave food, winter supplies, and tents to families.

Political Career

Early Political Steps

Khan was offered political roles several times during his cricket career. In 1987, President Zia-ul-Haq offered him a position, which he declined. Nawaz Sharif also invited Khan to join his party.

On 25 April 1996, Khan founded his own political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He ran for election in 1997 but did not win.

Khan supported General Musharraf's government in 1999, hoping it would end corruption. He later changed his view and criticized Musharraf. In the 2002 election, Khan was the only member of his party to win a seat.

Khan in 2007

In 2007, Khan resigned from Parliament to protest the presidential election. He was later placed under house arrest but escaped. He was arrested again during a student protest and spent a week in jail.

In 2011, Khan held large rallies in Lahore and Karachi. He called his movement a "tsunami." A 2012 survey showed PTI as a popular party in Pakistan.

2013 Elections and Opposition

Khan chose the cricket bat as the electoral symbol for his party in the 2013 elections, and it remained as such until 2023

Khan launched his election campaign in April 2013. He promised to end Pakistan's involvement in the US-led war on terror. He also wanted to create a fair education system for all children.

Just before the elections, Khan was injured in a fall at a rally. He addressed his final rally from a hospital bed via video link.

The 2013 Pakistani general election was held on 11 May. Nawaz Sharif's party won the most seats. Khan's party became the second-largest in terms of votes. PTI formed the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khan praised the high voter turnout, especially among youth and women.

Khan meets U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in August 2013 while he was in opposition

As an opposition leader, Khan criticized the United States for drone strikes. He said these attacks fueled extremism. In 2014, Khan led a large rally from Lahore to Islamabad. He demanded the prime minister's resignation and an investigation into election fraud.

After a school attack in Peshawar in December 2014, Khan ended his protests for national unity. In 2015, a judicial commission found the elections to be fair. Khan accepted the findings.

Khan also campaigned against Nawaz Sharif after the Panama Papers leaks in 2016. He led protests and called for Sharif's resignation due to corruption allegations.

Prime Minister (2018–2022)

Khan (left) is sworn in as Prime Minister, with President Mamnoon Hussain administering the oath in 2018.

Imran Khan became the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan on 18 August 2018. His party, PTI, won the 2018 Pakistani general election. His first speech focused on creating a fair government based on Islamic principles.

Economic Policies

Khan, accompanied by his finance minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and other cabinet members, meets US President Donald Trump and his secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross, among others, at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, in 2020

Khan's government faced economic challenges. They worked to stabilize the economy with new policies. The World Bank noted that Pakistan's business environment improved during his time.

Khan's government cut government spending. They reduced the Prime Minister's staff and auctioned luxury items. This helped save money for the country.

Environment and Energy

In 2018, Khan supported building the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Mohmand Dam. These dams help generate hydropower. His government aimed for 60% renewable energy by 2030.

They launched the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Programme. This project aimed to plant billions of trees across Pakistan. It was a big effort to fight climate change.

Foreign Relations

In November 2018, Khan responded to President Donald Trump's comments about Pakistan. He said Pakistan was no longer "your hired gun."

After the 2019 Pulwama attack, India accused Pakistan of involvement. Khan authorized a military response if attacked. He later released an Indian pilot as a peace gesture.

Khan with Iran's Rouhani and Ali Khamenei, 2019

In September 2019, Khan said Trump asked him to help with US-Iran talks. Khan visited both Iran and Saudi Arabia to ease tensions. He also supported Turkey during a conflict in Syria.

Khan helped the Afghan peace process. He opened a 24/7 border crossing with Afghanistan to help trade. He also stated that Pakistan would not recognize Israel until a Palestinian state was formed.

Khan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow just hours after Russia's invasion of Ukraine began.

In February 2022, Khan visited Moscow. He was the first Pakistani prime minister to do so in two decades. His visit aimed to strengthen economic ties with Russia.

Social Policies

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib renovated by Khan's government

Khan's government supported restoring religious sites for minorities. They returned a 200-year-old Gurdwara to the Sikh community. Khan also opened the Kartarpur Corridor for Indian Sikh pilgrims.

The government launched the Sehat Sahulat Program for free medical care. They also started the Ehsaas Programme as a social safety net. This program helped many low-income citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, Khan initially resisted a full lockdown. He worried about Pakistan's economy and poor citizens. His government used a "smart lockdown" strategy. This targeted specific areas with the virus.

Khan called for debt relief for developing nations during the pandemic. This idea gained support from the United Nations. His government's handling of the pandemic received a 73% approval rating in a 2021 survey.

Removal from Office

Imran Khan, accompanied by foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa.

In March 2022, opposition parties submitted a no-confidence motion against Khan. They cited economic issues and foreign policy concerns. Some members of his party also left.

Khan claimed there was foreign interference in Pakistan's politics. He suggested US involvement in his removal. The National Security Council also expressed concerns about foreign interference.

Khan was removed from office on 10 April 2022. This happened after the Supreme Court ruled against the rejection of the no-confidence motion. He became the first Pakistani PM removed by such a vote.

Post-Premiership Events

Khan speaking to media at Shaukat Khanum hospital after treatment

In November 2022, Khan was shot in the leg during an assassination attempt. This happened while he was leading a march. One of his supporters was killed. Khan blamed certain government officials for the attack.

In May 2023, Khan was arrested at the Islamabad High Court. This led to protests across Pakistan. The Supreme Court of Pakistan later declared his arrest illegal. He was granted bail.

In August 2023, Khan was arrested again and sentenced to three years in prison. This was related to allegations of misusing gifts received as prime minister. An appeals court later suspended his sentence and granted him bail. However, he remained in prison due to other legal matters.

In January 2024, Khan was sentenced to 10 years in prison in one case. He was also sentenced to 14 years in another case. These sentences were later overturned in mid-2024. In July 2024, his conviction in a marriage case was also overturned.

As of December 2024, 186 legal cases had been filed against Khan across Pakistan. In January 2025, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison in another case. Khan has stated that his imprisonment is politically motivated.

Political Views

Khan speaking at the Chatham House in London, 2012.

Khan's political ideas combine Islamic values with social welfare goals. He focuses on clean government and democracy. He has been influenced by Sufism.

He initially supported General Pervez Musharraf but later criticized him. Khan has also criticized US policies, including drone operations.

Khan has spoken out against Islamophobia. In 2019, he announced a joint TV channel with Turkey and Malaysia to address this issue. He has called on Muslim countries to unite against insulting the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

Khan in conversation with the United States Institute of Peace, 2019.

Khan describes himself as a pacifist and anti-war. He has opposed military operations in various conflicts. He views the Kashmir conflict as a humanitarian issue. He believes in peaceful talks to solve it.

Khan has also condemned forced conversions of Hindu girls in Sindh. He has called for an apology for past events in Bangladesh.

Awards and Honours

Decoration		Country	Date	Note	Ref.
	Order of the Renaissance	Bahrain	17 December 2019	First Class, the highest honour of Bahrain awarded to foreign dignitaries
	Order of King Abdul Aziz – Class I	Saudi Arabia	24 October 2021	First Class, the highest honour of Saudi Arabia awarded to foreign dignitaries

Authorship

Khan has written several non-fiction books. These include his autobiography, which he co-wrote. In the late 1980s, he was the editor of The Cricketer magazine. He also wrote articles for Pakistani and British newspapers.

His autobiography, Pakistan: A Personal History, was published in 2011. It talks about his journey from cricketer to politician.

Images for kids

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  Imran Khan's signature

See also

In Spanish: Imran Khan para niños