Imran Khan Myth of The Pakistani Middle-Class
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Imran Khan Myth of The Pakistani Middle-Class

عمران خان: افسانهٔ طبقهٔ متوسط پاکستانی

Compiler & Author: Nadeem Farooq Paracha

Imran Khan: Myth of the Pakistani Middle-Class examines the rise and decline of Imran Khan within the broader social and political shifts in Pakistan. Nadeem Farooq Paracha argues that Khan was not merely an individual phenomenon but a reflection of urban middle-class aspirations and the global wave of populism. The book analyzes the historical, social, and ideological roots of this support base. It offers a critical perspective on the middle class’s political behavior and its recurring search for “strongman” leadership.

Pages 140
Timeline Stops 51
Book Timeline

Book Timeline

1971

Imran Khan began his professional cricket career at the age of 18.

1974

Sarfraz Nawaz, an experienced player, took Imran Khan under his wing and taught him the 'art of reverse swing bowling'.

1976

Javed Miandad joined the cricket team as a player at the age of 19.

April 1977

Nightclubs in Pakistan were closed. General Zia-ul-Haq overthrew Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's regime and imposed martial law.

1979

Imran Khan nearly married a famous Bollywood actress, but his uncle Majid Khan reportedly intervened. Jamaat-e-Islami took control of Karachi's municipality from 1979 to 1987.

1980

Javed Miandad became the cricket team captain at the age of 24.

1981

A rebellion led by Majid Khan, including Imran Khan, formed against Miandad's captaincy. PCB removed Miandad and appointed Imran Khan as captain. Imran Khan began speaking in a 'Herald' magazine feature.

1982

Imran Khan was appointed as the team captain.

1983

Sarfraz Nawaz retired, but Imran Khan convinced him to continue playing.

1985

Sarfraz Nawaz retired.

1986

Qasim Umar was expelled from the team by Imran Khan and accused Khan of using marijuana/hashish and bringing women to the hotel room. Qasim was permanently banned by PCB.

1987

Younis Ahmed repeated Qasim's accusations and was also expelled from the team.

Imran Khan retired from cricket after the 1987 Cricket World Cup.

1988

Pakistan became the top Test cricket team in the world.

1989

Benazir Bhutto removed Hamid Gul from ISI.

1990

Benazir Bhutto's regime was dismissed by President Ishaq Khan on charges of 'corruption'.

1992

Pakistan won the Cricket World Cup for the first time.

Late 1992

The Pakistan team lost in a One Day International tournament in Australia.

1993

Nawaz Sharif's government was dismissed by President Ishaq Khan on charges of 'corruption'.

December 1994

Imran Khan's cancer hospital was completed.

1995

Benazir Bhutto visited a hospital in Lahore, but Imran Khan refused to meet her, indicating his dislike for her.

1996

Imran Khan launched his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), without any role for Hamid Gul.

November 1997

Benazir Bhutto's second government was dismissed due to its inability to control ethnic violence in Sindh.

PTI prepared for February 1997 elections.

February 1997

PMLN won with a two-thirds majority. PTI failed to secure a single seat, and Imran Khan lost in his Lahore constituency.

October 1999

Nawaz Sharif's regime was overthrown in a military coup by General Pervez Musharraf.

Imran Khan welcomed the coup and sought the premiership, but Musharraf asked him to wait for elections.

2002

Musharraf launched private TV channels, making Imran Khan a popular figure in political talk shows.

Pervez Musharraf became 'President' in 2002.

2004

2015: Attacks by Islamic militant organizations like Al-Qaeda on police, military, and civilians increased.

2005

A devastating earthquake occurred in northern Pakistan.

2006

Imran Khan praised Jamaat-e-Islami on a GeoTV talk show.

2007

PTI joined the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM).

Benazir Bhutto returned from exile

Survived an assassination attempt in October 2007 but was killed in December.

Musharraf agreed to early 2008 elections

2008

APDM, along with PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami, boycotted the elections.

2009

TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan) occupied Swat.

2011

Imran Khan held a "largest political gathering in Pakistan" in Lahore.

2012

"Pasban" officially distanced itself from controversial coup parts, blaming Imran Khan's "naivety" and Hamid Gul's "arrogance".

Article "Pakistan

A Personal History" by Imran Khan was published.

2013

PMLN won the elections, PPP came second, and PTI was third.

2014

Imran Khan questioned the election results, claiming fraud.

2015

Sabeen Mahmud, a human rights activist, was assassinated in Karachi by Saad Aziz and others.

2016

The "Panama Papers" were published online, containing documents naming some members of the Sharif family.

2017

Nawaz Sharif appointed General Qamar Bajwa as the new army chief.

2018

Imran Khan and PTI won the elections but had to form a weak coalition government.

2021

The military decided to replace ISI chief Faiz Hameed with a more 'neutral' Nadeem Anjum.

January 2022

Imran Khan published an article on the 'State of Medina' or the first 'Islamic State' in English and Urdu publications.

April 2022

The Pakistan People's Party and PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) secured the votes needed to oust Imran Khan.

October 2022

A leftist activist in Pakistan tweeted that 'liberals' and progressives, despite harsh criticism of the new government, are still insulted by PTI supporters.

December 2022

Imran Khan claimed on Twitter that General Bajwa, not the United States, was responsible for his removal.