On March 28, 2025, the Pakistan World Alliance (PWA), in partnership with Norway’s Partiet Sentrum party, dropped a bombshell: they’ve nominated former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. The announcement has unleashed a torrent of reactions, splitting opinions down the middle and reigniting old battles over Khan’s legacy. Locked up since his dramatic ouster in April 2022, Khan remains a towering figure—hero to some, villain to others—and this latest twist is fueling a debate that’s as fiery as it is far-reaching.
The Case for Khan
The nomination, lodged before the Nobel Committee’s February 1 deadline, isn’t a casual gesture. The PWA and Sentrum argue Khan’s earned it through nearly three decades of grit—28 years of fighting for human rights, democracy, and a cleaner Pakistan. “His efforts stand out,” their joint statement reads, painting him as a leader who’s faced down corruption and championed fair elections, even from a jail cell. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is practically bursting with pride. “This is a testament to his unwavering struggle,” a PTI spokesperson told reporters, eyes shining with hope.
They’ve got a highlight reel ready. Back in 2019, Khan scored a Nobel nod for a rare peacemaking move—releasing an Indian pilot captured during a tense border clash, defusing a near-war with New Delhi. It wasn’t just optics; it showed Khan could play the statesman when it counted. Supporters also tout his pre-politics days—building a cancer hospital from scratch with his own fundraising hustle—and his loud calls for justice in a country where power often trumps principle. “He’s a symbol of resistance,” one PTI worker said on X, echoing a sentiment shared by millions who see Khan as Pakistan’s last honest shot.
Even behind bars, Khan’s voice carries. Facing over 150 legal cases—many call them political witch hunts—he’s kept his base fired up, railing against what he calls a “stolen mandate” from the 2024 elections. His nomination, PTI says, is proof the world’s noticing his fight, not just his fall.
The Backlash Bites Back
But the applause barely had time to settle before the boos kicked in. Critics—plenty of them—are scoffing at the idea of Khan as a peace icon. “A mockery of a prestigious prize,” one X user blasted, summing up a chorus of disbelief. They’re not mincing words: some call him a “terrorist sympathizer,” pointing to his past soft stance on militant groups like the Taliban, while others say he’s a chaos agent who’s fueled division, not harmony. “Peace? He incited riots after his arrest,” another post jabbed, referencing the violent protests that erupted when Khan was hauled off in 2023.
His record’s under the microscope, and detractors say it’s a mess. Khan took office in 2018 promising a “new Pakistan”—no corruption, jobs for all, a booming economy. But three years later, inflation was soaring, the rupee was tanking, and political gridlock had Islamabad in a chokehold. His exit via a no-confidence vote—backed by rivals he claims were propped up by the military—left the country more fractured than ever. And those street clashes? Critics pin them on Khan’s fiery rhetoric, accusing him of egging on supporters to “shut Pakistan down” rather than cool things off. “Where’s the peace in that?” a skeptic asked online.
The nomination’s timing doesn’t help. Pakistan’s a pressure cooker—civil unrest, economic woes, and a military that’s flexing hard. Khan’s foes argue he’s less a martyr, more a magnet for trouble, and slapping a Nobel label on him feels like rewarding hype over substance. “This is PTI pulling strings, not merit,” one analyst told a local news outlet, suggesting the PWA’s ties to Khan’s party smell more like a PR stunt than a principled stand.
How It Works—and What’s at Stake
The nomination’s legit, at least on paper. Nobel rules let lawmakers, academics, or past winners toss names into the ring, and the PWA-Sentrum duo qualifies—Partiet Sentrum’s got Norwegian parliament cred, and the PWA, launched in 2024, is a vocal Khan-backing expat group. They’re one of 338 contenders this year—244 individuals, 94 organizations—vying for the October announcement. The catch? The Nobel Committee’s lips are sealed on the full list for 50 years, so Khan’s in the mix, but winning’s a steep climb. Past laureates like Malala Yousafzai (2014) set a high bar—tangible, global impact—and Khan’s resume, while bold, is a tougher sell.
For PTI, it’s a golden ticket to boost their man’s image. Khan’s been a lightning rod since day one—cricketer-turned-reformer, loved by millions for his charisma and straight talk, loathed by just as many for his ego and missteps. Jail hasn’t dimmed his pull; if anything, it’s made him a martyr to his base. A Nobel nod—even without a win—could cement that narrative, giving PTI ammo to rally support ahead of future elections. “It’s validation,” a party insider said. “The world sees what we’ve been shouting.”
But for his enemies, it’s a red flag. The military, which Khan accuses of rigging his downfall, isn’t likely to cheer. Neither are rivals like the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) or Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), who’ve traded barbs with him for years. Internationally, it’s a mixed bag—Western leaders might squirm at his Taliban comments, while others admire his defiance against big powers. Either way, the nomination’s a spark in a powder keg, and Pakistan’s already volatile scene could feel the heat.
A Divided Verdict
The debate’s spilling everywhere—TV talk shows, street corners, and X threads lighting up with takes. “He’s our hope—jail can’t stop that,” one fan posted, while another shot back, “Hope? He’s a hypocrite who wrecked us.” It’s Khan in a nutshell: a man who inspires devotion and disgust in equal measure. His supporters see a leader who’s taken on a rotten system, jail bars be damned; his critics see a showman who’s dodged accountability while pointing fingers. Both can’t be right, but neither’s backing down.
Globally, it’s a curiosity. Khan’s not the first polarizing figure to snag a Nobel nod—think Barack Obama in 2009, criticized as premature, or Aung San Suu Kyi, later tainted by Myanmar’s crises. Winning’s a long shot—bookmakers might not even list him—but the buzz keeps his name alive. And in a country where politics is a blood sport, that’s half the battle.
In October, the Nobel Committee will pick its winner, and Khan’s fate will either fade into the footnotes or flare into legend. Until then, the argument’s the real story—hope versus hype, principle versus politics. For his fans, it’s a chance to see their hero crowned; for his foes, a reason to double down on tearing him apart. One thing’s certain: Imran Khan’s not slipping quietly into the shadows. Whether he’s etched on a prize or just echoing through the chaos, his name’s keeping the world talking—and fighting—every step of the way.