Pakistan’s Mr. Popular

Imran Khan led Pakistan’s cricket team to its first, and so far only, World Cup victory. But can he lead the country?

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Oct. 30, 2011

Pakistani politician and former cricketer Imran Khan gestures upon his arrival during a rally in Lahore. A crowd of thousands gathered to press President Asif Ali Zardari to step down.

Arif Ali / AFP/Getty Images

Oct. 30, 2011

Supporters of Pakistani politician and former cricketer Imran Khan chant slogans during a rally in Lahore.

Arif Ali / AFP/Getty Images

Oct. 30, 2011

Supporters of Pakistani politician and former cricketer Imran Khan gather for a rally in Lahore. Police and Pakistani media estimated that at least 100,000 people showed up to see Khan.

Arif Ali / AFP/Getty Images

Aug. 6, 2011

Pakistani cricket-hero-turned-politician Imran Khan, center, drinks water as he breaks a fast next to party leaders of the Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) during an anti-government rally in Islamabad.

Farooq Naeem / AFP/Getty Images

Feb. 16, 2008

Imran Khan, a leader of Pakistan's All Parties Democratic Alliance Movement (APDM) addresses supporters at a rally campaigning for the boycott of the Lahore elections.

Pedro Ugarte / AFP/Getty Images

Nov. 22, 2007

A Pakistani worker walks in front of a poster of cricketer turned politician Imran Khan at his party secretariat in Islamabad. Khan, newly released from jail, called for a sweeping boycott of general elections to avoid legitimizing emergency rule.

Farooq Naeem / AFP/Getty Images

Oct. 17, 2007

Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan, center, addresses the gathering of opposition parties activists outside the Supreme Court building in Islamabad. Pakistan's Supreme Court adjourned hearings on 17 October into President Pervez Musharraf's election win so the chief justice can consider forming a full bench for the "high profile" case.

Farooq Naeem / AFP/Getty Images

Dec. 8, 2007

Pakistani lawyers gather around the Imran Khan, cricket hero turned politician, upon his arrival in Gujranwala.

Rameez Hassan / AFP/Getty Images

Dec. 9, 2010

Former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan, second right, gestures as Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga, right. Kapil Dev from India, left, and Vivian Richards from the West Indies pose with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 trophy in New Delhi.

Raveendran / AFP/Getty Images

Feb. 6, 2008

Pakistani opposition leaders of the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), Imran Khan, left, and Mehmood Khan Achakzai attend a public meeting in Quetta.

Banaras Khan / AFP/Getty Images

Nov. 22, 2007

Pakistani opposition politician and cricket legend, Imran Khan, speaks out against President Pervez Musharraf and emergency rule at a press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan. Khan was imprisoned by the government last week under terrorism charges after trying to lead a student protest in Lahore.

John Moore / Getty Images

May 12, 2008

Chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) Imran Khan addresses an anti-President Pervez Musharraf protest rally in Lahore.

Arif Ali / AFP/Getty Images

Oct. 8, 2002

Imran Khan, left, cricket captain turned politician and chairman of the Dhirir Tehrik-e-Insaf political party, waves to supporters during a rally in Shadi Khal, Pakistan.

Paula Bronstein / Getty Images

July 22, 2003

Imran Khan, chief of Tehrik-eInsaf party, gestures while speaking at a ceremony in Lahore. Khan has opposed a Pakistani government decision to recognize Israel saying that until the liberation of Palestine it should not be recognized.

Arif Ali / AFP/Getty Images

Nov. 30, 2007

Two boys hold posters of cricket-star-turned politician Imran Khan at a campaign rally in Lahore, Pakistan. Khan called the Supreme Court judges appointed by Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf "monkeys."

Greg Baker / AP

April 10, 2005

Imran Khan, center, and film director Syed Noor, right, hold a banner during a demonstration against violence toward women and promoting world peace in Lahore. Some 200 people participated in the walk arranged by Aitchison College Lahore and Amnesty International.

Arif Ali / AFP/Getty Images

March 13, 2004

Daughter of Indian opposition leader Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Pakistani former captain and present Pakistani parliament member Imran Khan watch the first One Day International (ODI) match between Pakistan and India in Karachi.

Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images

Sept. 20, 2002

Angry Muslim protesters burn a photograph of Pakistani cricket-star-turned-politician Imran Khan and his wife, Jemima, in Lahore, Pakistan. They reacted to the news published in local newspapers that Jemima sought assistance from Salman Rushdie, British author of the controversial book "The Satanic Verses." Khan is running for coming national elections.

K.M.Chaudary / AP

Dec. 19, 2005

Former Pakistan cricket team captain Imran Khan and his sons Qasim and Suleiman Khan watch the action during the fourth one day international match between Pakistan and England at The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Paul Gilham / Getty Images

Sept. 6, 1997

Former cricketer Imran Khan, accompanied by his wife, Jemima, wipes his face during the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, at London's Westminster Abbey.

Paul Hackett / AP

May 23, 1997

The late Princess of Wales, left, is given a tour of Imran Khan's charity cancer hospital with Khan and his wife, Jemima, in Lahore.

/ AFP/Getty Images

Feb. 9, 1997

Imran Khan, right, with his wife Jemima Khan, the daughter of multimillionaire British businessman James Goldsmith, and son Suleman Khan in Lahore, Pakistan. Khan and his wife later divorced in 2004.

K.M.Chaudary / AP

March 25, 1992

Cricket captain, Imran Khan, waving a Pakistan flag, is cheered by his teammates after Pakistan defeated England in the World Cup Cricket Final, in Melbourne, Australia.

Steve Holland / AP

March 25, 1992

Imran Khan of Pakistan celebrates after taking the wicket of Richard Illingworth of England to win the World Cup Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.

Joe Mann/AllSport / Getty Images

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