5 highlights of Imran Khan's political career - from PTI launch, to 1st poll win, & fight with Pak Army

In April 1996, Imran Khan, the cricketer became Imran Khan, the politician. Now, 26 years later, he is facing his biggest political test yet - a no-confidence motion.

Imran Khan wants to create history. He wants to be the first Prime Minister in Pakistan's 75-year history to complete his term.

But the outlook is bleak, as his allies have switched sides. Now, as the athlete-turned-legislator fights for survival, here's a brief look at the highlights of his political career.

With the symbol of a cricket bat, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was launched by Imran Khan on April 25, 1996 in Lahore. After failing to win any seats in the 1997 elections, the PTI finally opened its account in 2002, when Imran Khan was elected to the National Assembly.

A dry spell of more than a decade followed, with Imran Khan not being able to convert his sports stardom into political power. Finally, in 2013, the PTI made an electoral mark by winning over 30 seats in the National Assembly. Imran Khan's party also formed the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in alliance with Jamaat-i-Islami.

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Five years later, Khan's dream finally came true when the PTI emerged as the single-largest party in the elections, and went on to form the government at the centre with the help of smaller allies.

Then, in October 2021, the downturn in Imran's political fortunes is believed to have begun. The premier reportedly refused to approve the appointment of the officer chosen by the Pakistani Army chief to lead the nation's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI.

In Pakistan, support of the powerful and influential military is believed to be the key to acquiring and retaining power.