What Happened to Imran Khan?
Imran Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has faced a dramatic political downfall since his ousting in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote. He has since been embroiled in numerous legal battles, leading to multiple convictions and his ongoing imprisonment, while his party, PTI, has faced significant crackdowns and restrictions.
Quick Answer
Imran Khan is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, serving multiple sentences for various convictions, including 14 years in the Al-Qadir Trust graft case and 17 years in a second state-gift graft case. His appeals against these sentences are ongoing, with a crucial hearing for the Al-Qadir Trust case scheduled for March 11, 2026. Despite his incarceration and his party's challenges, PTI-backed independents secured the most seats in the February 2024 general elections, highlighting his enduring popular support amidst a politically charged environment and concerns over his health.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Removed as Prime Minister
Imran Khan was ousted from power after losing a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, becoming the first Pakistani Prime Minister to be removed by such a motion.
Disqualified from Public Office
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified Imran Khan from holding public office for five years in the Toshakhana case, related to the alleged illegal sale of state gifts.
Survived Assassination Attempt
Imran Khan survived a gun attack on his convoy during a protest march, sustaining injuries, and subsequently accused the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of plotting his murder.
First Major Arrest, Sparking Protests
Khan was arrested from inside the Islamabad High Court by the National Accountability Bureau on corruption charges related to the Al-Qadir Trust, leading to widespread and violent protests by his supporters across Pakistan.
Convicted in Toshakhana Case
Khan was arrested in Lahore and sentenced to three years in jail for misusing his role as prime minister to buy and sell state gifts, a conviction that barred him from contesting elections.
PTI Barred from Using Election Symbol
The Election Commission of Pakistan rejected Imran Khan's nomination for the 2024 elections and later stripped PTI of its electoral symbol (cricket bat) for failing to hold intra-party elections, forcing candidates to run as independents.
Convicted in Cipher Case
A special court sentenced Imran Khan and his party's vice-chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, to 10 years in prison each for revealing state secrets in connection with a diplomatic cable.
PTI-backed Independents Win Most Seats in General Election
Despite a crackdown on PTI, Khan's imprisonment, and the party being barred from using its symbol, PTI-backed independent candidates won the largest number of directly elected seats (93 out of 266) in the general elections.
Convicted in Al-Qadir Trust Graft Case
Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were convicted by an accountability court and sentenced to 14 years in prison each in the Al-Qadir Trust graft case.
Convicted in Second State-Gift Graft Case
A Pakistani court convicted and sentenced Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison for retaining and selling state gifts at prices far below their market value.
Health Concerns and Eye Condition
Reports surfaced that Imran Khan had lost nearly 85% of his vision in his right eye due to Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO), leading his legal team to seek sentence suspension on medical grounds.
Sisters Criticize PTI Leadership
Imran Khan's sisters publicly accused the PTI leadership of 'complete silence' and inaction regarding his ongoing legal and medical cases, highlighting internal party rifts.
Supreme Court to Hear Defamation Review Plea
The Supreme Court is scheduled to take up a review petition on March 6, 2026, concerning the termination of Imran Khan's right of defense in a Rs10 billion defamation suit.
Al-Qadir Trust Case Appeal Hearing
The Islamabad High Court is scheduled to hear crucial appeals from Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi seeking suspension of their sentences in the Al-Qadir Trust graft case.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Imran Khan's political journey took a sharp turn after he was removed from the office of Prime Minister of Pakistan on April 10, 2022, through a no-confidence vote, becoming the first Pakistani premier to be ousted by such a measure. This event marked the beginning of a period of intense political turmoil and legal challenges for the former cricket star and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). His removal was widely attributed to a loss of support from the powerful military establishment, which had previously been seen as instrumental in his rise to power in 2018.
Following his ousting, Khan launched a vigorous campaign against the new government, led by Shehbaz Sharif, and the military, alleging a U.S.-backed conspiracy to remove him – claims denied by all parties. His popular rallies garnered significant public support, but also led to increased confrontation with state institutions. A key turning point came in October 2022 when the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified him from holding public office for five years in the Toshakhana case, related to the alleged illegal sale of state gifts. In November 2022, he survived an assassination attempt during a protest march, further escalating political tensions.
Khan's legal woes intensified throughout 2023 and 2024. He was dramatically arrested from inside the Islamabad High Court in May 2023 on corruption charges related to the Al-Qadir Trust, sparking widespread and at times violent protests across the country. Although briefly released on bail, he was rearrested in August 2023 and subsequently convicted in the Toshakhana case, receiving a three-year prison sentence. This conviction barred him from contesting the upcoming general elections. In January 2024, he and his deputy were sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Cipher case for revealing state secrets.
The lead-up to the February 2024 general elections saw a significant crackdown on PTI, with thousands of workers arrested, leaders pressured to defect, and the party barred from using its iconic cricket bat symbol, forcing its candidates to run as independents. Despite these restrictions and Khan's imprisonment, PTI-backed independent candidates surprisingly won the most directly elected seats in the National Assembly, though not an outright majority, leading to a coalition government formed by PML-N and PPP. Further convictions followed, including a 14-year sentence for Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Al-Qadir Trust graft case in January 2025, and a 17-year sentence in a second state-gift graft case in December 2025.
As of March 1, 2026, Imran Khan remains incarcerated in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, facing multiple lengthy prison sentences. His legal team is actively pursuing appeals, with the Islamabad High Court scheduled to hear appeals against his and Bushra Bibi's sentences in the Al-Qadir Trust case on March 11, 2026. Concerns about his health have also emerged, with reports in February 2026 indicating significant vision loss in his right eye, prompting his lawyers to seek sentence suspension on medical grounds. The political landscape remains volatile, with Khan's sisters publicly criticizing PTI leadership for perceived inaction on his cases, underscoring the ongoing internal and external pressures on the former prime minister and his party. Analysts suggest that 2026 will likely see the current political dispensation consolidate further, with Khan's future heavily dependent on his political choices and potential external pressures.