18 note-worthy quotes by PTI chairman Imran Khan

PTI leader talks cricketing career, his mantra for success, his marriage and divorce to Jemima in throwback interview


Rida Lodhi August 02, 2018
PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: The life of Imran Khan totally warrants a novel. While switching careers from cricket to politics in the hope of give birth to a 'Naya Pakistan,' the PTI chairman has sacrificed his family, friends and much more for the country.

As PTI, emerges victorious in the July 25 general elections, Khan is now busy prepping for something he has been working towards for the last 22 years. He is said to be the 'one last ray of hope' for Pakistan but only time will tell how well Khan fares once he takes office.

In the meantime, we took a look back at a 2007 interview the 64-year-old did with Bollywood star Simi Garewal. And boy, did Khan impress!


Clad in a dark suit, he talked about his flourishing cricket career, his mantra for success, the loss of his mother, his marriage to and divorce from to Jemima Goldsmith and his struggles through life in this episode of in Rendezvous with Simi Garewal. Here are 18 of the most note-worthy things Khan said:

1. Why he won't ever dwell in the past:

PHOTO: SKY SPORTS PHOTO: SKY SPORTS

"The reason I refuse to look back (albums, videos from my past) is because I feel it stops your evolutionary process. You don't grow if you keep living in your past."

2. His belief in himself:

Imran Khan speaking to supporters at a campaign rally. PHOTO: AFP/FILE Imran Khan speaking to supporters at a campaign rally. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

"I always believed I could win."

3. On being a dreamer:

PHOTO: PTI OFFICIALPHOTO: PTI OFFICIAL

"I was always a dreamer. I knew at the age of nine that I will one day play for the Pakistani cricket team. It was only a question of when."

4. His mantra for success:

PTI chief Imran Khan vows to root out corruption by strengthening institutions at Mianwali rally on Sunday. PHOTO: AFP PHOTO: AFP

"When you're scared to lose, you don't learn how to win."

5. Mental strength is the key:

PHOTO: GULF NEWS PHOTO: GULF NEWS

"When I started off my cricket career, I thought talent was everything. As I went on with life, I realised mental strength is the key to success. You can have all the talent but if you don't have the character to translate that talent into performance, it is wasted."

6. The reason he's not afraid of losing:

PTI chairman Imran Khan PHOTO:FILE PTI chairman Imran KhanPHOTO:FILE

"If you can handle defeat, you'll go higher in life."

7. What he learned from adversity:

PHOTO: APP PHOTO: APP

"I've always looked at all my life as a struggle. There were ups and there were downs. It also strengthened me as a person. No university teaches you what adversity can."

8. His good looks:

PHOTO: THE CRICKET WEEKLY PHOTO: THE CRICKET WEEKLY

"Looks actually don't go very far after a while. People who I thought were attractive always had attractive personalities."

9. Passion derives focus:

Imran Khan at his Bani Gala residence. PHOTO: REUTERS Imran Khan at his Bani Gala residence. PHOTO: REUTERS

"I have always been motivated by some sort of passion. That, solely, has been my focus in life. Everything else is peripheral."

10. The importance of money:

Imran Khan. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE Imran Khan. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

"Generosity has nothing to do with one's bank balance."

11. On having clear intentions:

PHOTO: AFP PHOTO: AFP

"One thing I was never doubtful about was that my life was here - in Pakistan."

12. On going from riches to rags:

imran1

"I'm not a materialistic person. I don't care for the riches. I can easily live in a shack or outdoors or even a farm!"

13. His weaknesses:

PHOTO: AFPPHOTO: AFP

"Failure teaches you more than winning. It completely exposes your weaknesses."

14. Modernisation doesn't mean westernisation:

Balochistan Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) General Secretary Qasim Khan Suri stands behind PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: QASIM KHAN SURI PHOTO: QASIM KHAN SURI

"I'm not against modernisation of the society. I was critical particularly of Western clothing in the country. There's a small elite class in Pakistan which wear westernised clothes; the urban elites. Other common children wear shalwar kameez and go to these public schools, who have been told from the very beginning that you are at the bottom of the ladder and those kids are at the top of this social ladder. If you want to become like them, you have to wear these clothes. It's a hang-up of colonialism."

15. Soul-searching:

PTI Chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: PTI OFFICIAL PTI Chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: PTI OFFICIAL

"When you are in a lot of pain, you do soul-searching. You question yourself, your life. And that's how you come out of it stronger."

16. The incomplete fairytale:

PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: FILE

"There was this intense attraction the moment I met Jemima. I just knew she was the person I wanted to be with, the one I wanted to marry."

17. Marital woes:

PHOTO: TWITTER PHOTO: TWITTER

"One of the fundamental flaws in our marriage was that I wasn't able to give time to her. So, what were our options? I could leave everything and go to England with her. And then what? Do what? That's not the man she married. She would have lost respect for me, I would have lost respect for myself. I can't imagine a purposeless existence."

18. On fatherhood:

PHOTO: PINTEREST PHOTO: PINTEREST

"Fatherhood is the greatest experience of my life. Nothing compares to it."

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. 

 

COMMENTS (8)

Iqbal Akhund | 5 years ago | Reply good interview but its disturbing that the new PM seems still to consider Western dress a problem. It is worn by Turks, Japanese, Algerians - the Pakistan Armed forces and cricketers because it is convenient and has become an international dress.
Arsalan | 5 years ago | Reply Good said. What an Interview. I think Imran Khan should call his sons and Jemima in his oath taking ceremony.
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ