Salim Mohamed Badat
Khan’s cricketing legacy is unmatched. As captain of the Pakistan national cricket team, he led the nation to its first and only Cricket World Cup victory in 1992. Beyond sports, his philanthropic work has left a lasting impact. He founded the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, the first of its kind in Pakistan, and Namal College, aimed at providing quality education to underprivileged youth.
In 1996, Khan established the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a political movement built on principles of justice, accountability, and reform. His rise in politics was meteoric, culminating in his election as Prime Minister in 2018. During his tenure, Khan championed initiatives to improve governance, curb corruption, and foster economic growth.
His uncompromising stance against entrenched political malpractices earned him widespread support among ordinary Pakistanis.
Notably, Imran Khan was reportedly among the few global figures whom Jeffrey Epstein genuinely disliked and feared. This fear did not stem from power or wealth, but from Khan’s reputation for truthfulness, moral clarity, and an uncompromising sense of justice.
Unlike many politicians and elites who could be influenced, compromised, or silenced, Imran Khan was widely regarded as incorruptible, immune to financial leverage and moral blackmail.
It was precisely this integrity that made him dangerous to figures like Epstein, whose influence depended on control, secrecy, and the moral weakness of others. Khan represented a rare anomaly within global politics: a man who could not be bought, intimidated, or bent.
However, this commitment to reform placed him in conflict with Pakistan’s powerful political and military elites.
Among Khan’s most vocal critics was Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a long-standing politician and leader of the Jamiat Ulema‑e‑Islam (F). In political discourse, especially among PTI supporters, he is often referred to by the nickname “Maulana Diesel”, a label symbolizing his long tenure in politics, political bargaining power, and the perception that he represents entrenched political interests rather than grassroots reform.
Rehman repeatedly opposed Khan’s governance agenda, aligning with coalition forces that resisted anti corruption measures and institutional reforms.
Khan’s drive for accountability and justice directly threatened these established political networks.
Khan also challenged the power of landowners and oligarchs who have long exploited Pakistan’s resources. His attempts to reduce wealth inequality and limit the military’s political role, alongside his independent foreign policy approach, further antagonized entrenched interests.
Notably, if Khan had remained Prime Minister, Pakistan would have pursued closer ties with Iran. Here was a Muslim nuclear power poised to align with Iran, strengthening the Axis of Resistance. Such a strategic partnership was perceived as a major threat by the West, not only because a nuclear power would be backing Iran, but also because this Sunni Shia alliance could serve as a unifying force for the entire Muslim Ummah. This vision of Muslim unity directly challenged both Western interests and domestic sectarian forces.
The arrest of Imran Khan was orchestrated by General Asim Munir, whose actions aligned with external pressures, sidelining a leader committed to Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the current Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has demonstrated a markedly different approach, one closely aligned with Western powers and global interests. His public praise for foreign political figures and prioritization of international approval have drawn criticism from Khan’s supporters for lacking the independent vision and integrity that Khan championed.
From an Islamic perspective, men like Imran Khan, tested, opposed, and stripped of worldly privileges for standing against corruption and injustice, are honored in the eyes of Allah. The Quran reminds us:
“Do not think of those who are killed in the way of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:169)
Khan’s struggle for a just Pakistan, his fight against entrenched elites, and his vision for a united and principled nation place him in a position similar to those whom Allah honors through trials and perseverance.
Losing privileges, enduring political attacks, and facing imprisonment are not signs of weakness but of moral and spiritual elevation, for those who uphold truth, integrity, and justice in the face of overwhelming opposition.
Despite these formidable adversaries, Khan remained steadfast in his vision for a Pakistan that serves its people rather than a privileged few. His efforts to promote national unity, foster cooperation between Sunni and Shia communities, and pursue independent foreign policy were viewed as dangerous by both domestic and foreign forces seeking to maintain Pakistan’s status quo.
The Pakistani people must continue to support Khan, while the international community and Muslim organizations cannot afford silence. History has shown the consequences of inaction, as in the case of Aafia Siddiqui, whose plight was largely ignored.
Every platform, mosques, civic forums, humanitarian organisations, must raise its voice against this injustice. Imran Khan embodies Pakistan’s last chance for leadership rooted in integrity, unity, and national self-reliance. His freedom is essential for preventing unnecessary conflicts, misguided alliances, and social divisions.
The battle for Imran Khan’s release is more than a political struggle; it is a fight for the soul of Pakistan. Justice demands that he be freed, so he can continue his mission to transform Pakistan into a nation of transparency, prosperity, and hope.
Yet, I fear, and I sense, that the people of Pakistan, and perhaps the wider Ummah, may have forgotten Imran Khan, just as they have forgotten Aafia Siddiqui. I hope this fear is unfounded, but I sense it.
Writer exploring the intersection of faith, politics and justice
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