Rise and fall of PTI chairman's political career
Pakistan
List of events described regarding political career of cricket star tuned politician
LAHORE (Dunya Investigation Cell) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman was arrested in the Toshakhana case on 5 August. A list of events is described below regarding the political career of the cricket star tuned politician.
Before joining politics, the main reason for the fame of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chairman was being the captain of the 1992 World Cup winning team and building the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital.
The former prime minister founded the Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore in April 1991 and this hospital was opened to the public in 1994. The floods of 2006 and 2010 devastated the people of Pakistan and the Foundation PTI chairman supported the poor people.
In terms of his career as cricket star, he participated in a total of five cricket world cups which were held in 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1992. After winning the 1992 World Cup, he retired from international cricket, and, thereafter, started participating in social activities.
Afterwards, the cricket-star turned politician founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Lahore on 25 April 1996 and proposed solutions to address corruption in the country which included the concept of an independent judiciary, an independent election commission and an independent accountability bureau. In 1997, he campaigned vigorously but he could not win a single seat under the banner of his party across the country.
After that political failure of the former prime minister, many of his colleagues went into the background but he continued his political journey and stood under the banner of PTI from NA-21, NA-35, NA-53, NA-94 and NA-95 in the 1997 polls – however unable to won any seat.
When General Pervez Musharraf overthrew the PML-N government, he announced his support for General Pervez Musharraf and supported him in the referendum.
In the 2002 elections, the PTI chief contested from two seats of the Provincial Assembly - KP-5 and KP-47 - and three seats of the National Assembly - NA-29, NA-71 and NA-122. AN-71 – however winning only the Mianwali seat.
Meanwhile, PTI chairman and his party announced to boycott the 2008 elections. The PTI rose to glory in the general meeting held at Minar Pakistan Lahore on 30 October 2011.
In the 2013 elections, PTI emerged as the second largest party in the country in terms of number of seats and the third largest in terms of seats in the National Assembly and the PTI chief contested elections from NA-1, NA-56, NA-71 and NA 122, out of which he was defeated by Ayaz Sadiq of PML-N while winning the other three seats.
The PTI alleged that 2013 elections were rigged and demanded a fair probe. It protested for 126 days in D Chowk, Islamabad.
In the general elections held in 2018, PTI chief contested from National Assembly seats NA-35, NA-53, NA-95, NA-131 and NA-243 and won all the seats. PTI Chairman was sworn in as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan on August 18, 2018.
After winning the 2018 general elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf emerged as the largest party in the country the PTI chief became the prime minister with the support of PML-Q, GDA, BNP, BAP and MQM.
After almost four years since coming to power, the PTI chief faced the most difficult test as a no-confidence motion was submitted against the former Prime Minister on March 8, 2022 by the coalition parties of Pakistan Democratic Movement.
Read More : Opposition submits no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan
Just days before him facing the no-confidence motion, the PTI chairman waved a cipher during a rally in Islamabad claiming a foreign conspiracy to oust him. At last, the no-confidence motion against the former prime minister succeeded with 174 votes on April 9, 2022 – earning the not so coveted title to become the first PM in Pakistan’s history to be removed by a motion of no confidence.
Despite being removed, it seemed his popularity was still intact, PTI chairman set a new record by winning 6 out of 7 seats in the by-elections to the National Assembly on 16 October 2022.
There was another dramatic in turn of events, as on 3 November 2022, PTI chief faced a murderous attack Wazirabad in which he was injured. On March 14, 2023, after the court issued an arrest warrant against him, the police conducted an operation in Zaman Park to arrest him. The tussle lasted for hours in which many police officers were injured, and reportedly, petrol bombs were also thrown on the police by the workers, but the of PTI chief could not be arrested.
On 9 May 2023, the PTI chief was arrested by the rangers from the Islamabad High Court premises in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Must Read: Imran Khan's arrest in Al-Qadir Trust case stokes sense of foreboding
Rangers were called in while Section 144 was imposed for two days in Punjab and 30 days in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On May 12, 2023, the arrest of PTI cheif was suspended by the Supreme Court declaring it illegal.
Finally, on 5 August, the District and Sessions Court of Islamabad sentenced PTI chairman for three years in the Toshakhana case, disqualifying him for five years.
