INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
"quietly confident" of victory in a general election this month and that as prime minister, he would drive an anti-corruption and
anti-poverty campaign in the country.Oxford-educated Khan spoke in an interview on Friday as his arch foe, ousted former prime minister
Nawaz Sharif, was due to return to the country and be arrested on a conviction that was handed down by an anti-graft court last week.Much of
on populist promises of a prosperous Pakistan that breaks away from its persistent legacy of corruption, even as he expands appeals to
nationalist and religious sentiment in the nuclear-armed nation.As prime minister, he says he will partially model his promised
interview in a private jet after a long night of campaigning in Punjab province."And actually we have meetings with the Chinese on all the
- backed government's war against Taliban militants in neighbouring Afghanistan."I think the longer the U.S
troops stay there, the less the chance of there being a political settlement," Khan said."I think the Afghans, you know, if the U.S
even gives a timetable of withdrawal, and then gets the Afghans on the table, and then with the neighbours also chipping in, I think that is
feels the stars have finally aligned for him.In recent years, he has mostly shed the playboy image of his younger days, marrying his
spiritual adviser earlier this year and making public shows of devotion to Islam.Supporters lined the roads leading to the three rallies
Khan spoke at on Thursday night, swarming his entourage to fling rose petals as he entered each venue.His speeches are still peppered with
cricket references but also have appeals to religious conservatives in the country of 208 million.And he has courted traditional power
fortunes were transformed last July when the Supreme Court disqualified three-time premier Sharif in a case that judges only took up when
Khan threatened to paralyse the capital Islamabad with his supporters.Sharif is due to return to Pakistan on Friday to be arrested in a move
that he hopes will boost his PML-N party ahead of polls, but Khan dismissed the move as futile.He also rejected increasing allegations by
public is demanding accountability of corrupt leaders of political parties," Khan said."Now, each time there is an attempt to hold them
do it.I am hopeful, I am confident, but still, the match is not over until the last ball is bowled."Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), political party, holds his tasbih, while having tea on a plane on his way to a campaign rally ahead of general
elections in Sialkot, Pakistan July 12, 2018
Picture taken July 12, 2018
that as prime minister, he would drive an anti-corruption and anti-poverty campaign in the country.Oxford-educated Khan spoke in an
interview on Friday as his arch foe, ousted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was due to return to the country and be arrested on a
conviction that was handed down by an anti-graft court last week.Much of the eastern city of Lahore, the hometown of both Khan and Sharif,
from its persistent legacy of corruption, even as he expands appeals to nationalist and religious sentiment in the nuclear-armed nation.As
they lift people out of poverty," Khan said in the interview in a private jet after a long night of campaigning in Punjab province."And
actually we have meetings with the Chinese on all the steps they took to reduce poverty."Whoever wins the election will also have to
- backed government's war against Taliban militants in neighbouring Afghanistan."I think the longer the U.S
troops stay there, the less the chance of there being a political settlement," Khan said."I think the Afghans, you know, if the U.S
even gives a timetable of withdrawal, and then gets the Afghans on the table, and then with the neighbours also chipping in, I think that is
feels the stars have finally aligned for him.In recent years, he has mostly shed the playboy image of his younger days, marrying his
spiritual adviser earlier this year and making public shows of devotion to Islam.Supporters lined the roads leading to the three rallies
Khan spoke at on Thursday night, swarming his entourage to fling rose petals as he entered each venue.His speeches are still peppered with
cricket references but also have appeals to religious conservatives in the country of 208 million.And he has courted traditional power
fortunes were transformed last July when the Supreme Court disqualified three-time premier Sharif in a case that judges only took up when
Khan threatened to paralyse the capital Islamabad with his supporters.Sharif is due to return to Pakistan on Friday to be arrested in a move
that he hopes will boost his PML-N party ahead of polls, but Khan dismissed the move as futile.He also rejected increasing allegations by
public is demanding accountability of corrupt leaders of political parties," Khan said."Now, each time there is an attempt to hold them
do it.I am hopeful, I am confident, but still, the match is not over until the last ball is bowled."