He is Imran Khan, who became famous as an international cricketer before his popularity increased when he became prime minister in his country, and who reveals to Al-Jazeera - in an episode (12/17/2021) of the program "The Other Side" - about important and pivotal stages of his life, starting from his upbringing. In the Pakistani city of Lahore, then his professional cricket stage, leading to his entry into the world of politics.
Imran Khan grew up in the city of Lahore, to parents who participated in the liberation movement of Pakistan, and he was the only son among 4 girls.
He left for England at the age of 18 to study at the Royal Grammar School, then continued studying economics and politics at the British University of Oxford.
After completing his university studies, he did not fulfill his father's desire to work in his own company, because his passion was playing cricket, in which he achieved consecutive victories and crowned the world championship in 1992.
Khan revealed to the "The Other Side" program that he participated in this tournament because he wanted to build a hospital specialized in treating cancer patients, a decision he took after his mother died of the same disease, and also because the poor were forced to sell anything for very expensive treatment, and reveals that The hospital, which he built with difficulty, receives 70 percent of patients free of charge.
From sports to politics
Khan's life changed after the death of his mother, and based on his conviction that Pakistan should be a "welfare state" in the footsteps of Medina, he decided to enter the world of politics, and in 1996 founded the "Insaf" party, through which he wanted to fight corruption and establish the rule of law in his country.
He points out that his battle was against the corrupt ruling elite that was destroying the country, and he identified the two former prime ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, whom he described as corrupt, and said that his struggle with them and with the corrupt elites was bitter and similar to fighting the mafia.
After a political struggle, the cricketer assumed the position of Prime Minister in Pakistan in 2018, a position he asserts that he did not push him to it, not to seek money or fame, but to serve his country.
It is unlikely that among his ministers there will be someone who is corrupt, and he challenges those who prove this, saying, "There is no corrupt in my government."
He asserts that he would be the first to investigate the matter if corruption occurred in his government.
On the other hand, the guest of the "other side" touched on the phenomenon of Islamophobia and the Western propaganda against Muslims, and criticized in this context the position of Muslim leaders because they did not explain to the West the reality of Islam and the relationship of Muslims to their Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and called for the need for a joint action by the leaders Muslims in the forums of the United Nations and the European Union.
And about himself, Khan says that he defended the Messenger, may God bless him and grant him peace, in his first speech at the United Nations meeting, and explained to the audience that the Messenger is the most dear person to the hearts of Muslims.
On the local level, he launched the "Mercy for the Worlds" organization, through which Khan says that he wanted to instill the love of the Prophet, prayers and peace be upon him, in the hearts of Pakistanis, and to make young people search for his biography so that he would know how the Messenger changed the world and made Arabs leaders of the world, and so that they would understand that there Western culture and also there is also Islamic culture.
Khan adds that the new generation can go digital, but they have to learn about the life of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace.
Kashmir and the reason for wearing Pakistani clothes
In his dialogue with the "The Other Side" program, the Prime Minister of Pakistan also presented his vision of the challenges facing Pakistan, and said that chaos in Afghanistan could lead to international terrorism once again, and that his country would be the first to suffer if the situation deteriorated in the neighboring country of Pakistan.
He also spoke about the Kashmir issue, and pointed out that the worst violation of human rights, international law and UN Security Council resolutions occurred there, as 8 million people live in an open prison, stressing that his country does not expect much from Islamic countries by virtue of the relations of most of these countries with India.
He also stressed that his country would respond to any attack that India might launch on Pakistan, and warned of the danger of a confrontation between two nuclear powers.
Finally, the Prime Minister of Pakistan answered a question about his dress, and said that by virtue of his position he adheres to the dress worn by 95% of the Pakistani people, pointing out that there is a minority of the elite imitating the West.