Former prime minister of Pakistan and one-time cricket superstar. He governed as a populist before being ousted by the political and military establishment in 2022, then imprisoned on what the article describes as specious charges. As prime minister he sacked Asim Munir as intelligence chief—a grudge General Munir has not forgotten.
Behind bars Mr Khan's popularity has soared. He sits in solitary confinement. His position is "liberty or death", according to his sister Aleema Khan. His party, the PTI, has been partially dismantled; its members are routinely picked up before planned protests and taken to unknown places, according to Ali Zafar, a PTI senator. There is still broad public support for Mr Khan; in one day in mid-2025 alone, 108 of his supporters were jailed. Seasoned observers doubt he will be released as long as General Munir rules.
All [zoos] actually offer to the public in return for the taxes spent upon them is a form of idle and witless amusement, compared to which a visit to a penitentiary, or even to a State legislature in session, is informing, stimulating and ennobling.