Imran Khan’s political journey is, in many ways, a story of such an addiction — one that has kept him behind bars while millions of his supporters continue to stand by him.
Born into an elite family, educated at Aitchison College and Oxford University, Khan first captured public attention as an international cricket star.
His crowning achievement came in 1992, when he led Pakistan to its first Cricket World Cup title despite struggling with a shoulder injury. His charisma and leadership made him a national icon.
But cricket was only the beginning. After his mother died of cancer, Khan channelled his grief into building the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Lahore, providing cancer treatment to patients who could not afford it.
He later established NUML University, extending his charitable work into education. These projects helped transform his image from a sporting celebrity into a philanthropist with national ambitions.
When Khan founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 1996, few expected him to become a serious political force.
The party failed to win a seat in the 1997 elections, and in 2002, Khan was elected to parliament from Mianwali as its only member. For years, his critics dismissed PTI as a one-man party.
Then came October 30, 2011. A massive rally at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan marked a turning point. Young people and ordinary citizens began rallying behind Khan’s promises to challenge corruption, family-based politics and an entrenched political order.
His message had found an audience that traditional parties could no longer ignore. PTI emerged as a major political force in the 2013 elections and formed a government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
After years of opposition, Khan became Pakistan’s prime minister in 2018, presenting himself as an alternative to the country’s established political leadership.
His supporters point to initiatives such as the Sehat Sahulat health insurance programme, the Billion Tree Tsunami project and the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as important parts of his political legacy.
Critics, however, have questioned aspects of his government’s economic performance, governance and political approach.
Khan’s removal from office through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022 did not end his political influence. Instead, his narrative of resistance gained renewed momentum.
After he was wounded in a gun attack during his protest march in November 2022, his supporters rallied around him, viewing the incident as another chapter in his struggle.
His arrest by paramilitary personnel at the Islamabad High Court on May 9, 2023, triggered nationwide unrest and was followed by a sweeping crackdown on PTI.
Khan subsequently faced multiple legal cases, including those concerning state gifts and the Al-Qadir Trust. He and his party have disputed aspects of the cases, while the legal proceedings have remained central to Pakistan’s political crisis.
Yet the question remains: What makes Imran Khan’s appeal so enduring?
Part of the answer lies in his image as a political outsider who challenged dynastic politics. His “Absolutely Not” slogan, his criticism of foreign interference and his speeches on Islamophobia at the United Nations resonated with supporters who saw him as a leader willing to defend Pakistan’s sovereignty.
His ability to mobilise young people and women also reshaped the country’s political landscape.
For many supporters, his continued imprisonment has reinforced the belief that he is paying a personal price for refusing to compromise.
Others view his political approach more critically, pointing to his confrontational style, the polarisation surrounding his leadership and his failure to build a strong second line of leadership capable of carrying the party forward in his absence.
That leadership vacuum has become one of PTI’s most significant challenges. With Khan behind bars, the party has struggled to maintain a unified strategy.
Some supporters have accused its senior leaders of failing to mount an effective campaign for his release, although such allegations remain matters of political dispute rather than established fact.
Despite the loss of its traditional election symbol, restrictions affecting its leaders and the difficulties surrounding its campaign, PTI-backed independent candidates won a substantial number of seats in the 2024 general election.
For Khan’s supporters, the result demonstrated that his political influence extended beyond the party’s formal structure.
But popularity does not automatically resolve a country’s political and economic problems. Nor does imprisonment, by itself, establish the innocence or guilt of any political leader.
Khan’s legacy will ultimately depend not only on the loyalty he commands but also on his political decisions, governance record and ability to build institutions beyond his own personality.
For now, Imran Khan remains a central figure in Pakistan’s political struggle. His opponents may see his imprisonment as a blow to his movement, while his supporters regard it as another test of his resolve.
Perhaps that is the meaning of this “expensive addiction”: Khan has paid for his political convictions with his freedom, while many of his supporters continue to bear the costs of their loyalty through uncertainty, hardship and political confrontation.
The real question is no longer simply why people follow Imran Khan. It is why, despite years of political turmoil, imprisonment and internal divisions, so many still believe that his story is far from over.
