Former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan has shocked the country's political establishment by drawing more than 100,000 supporters to Lahore's largest political rally in 20 years.
The scale of the rally has been described as a "tipping point" for him and his Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (Movement for Justice) political party (PTI), which, until now, has failed to convert his own personal popularity into mass political support.But the turnout in Lahore on Sunday has shocked even his opponents who had written him off.
Now commentators believe Pakistan's most celebrated cricketer and best-known former playboy could have a decisive impact on the next election, expected next year, amid growing dissatisfaction with the ruling Pakistan People's Party under Benazir Bhutto's widower Ali Asif Zardari. There has also been a loss of momentum of the main opposition party the Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Mr Khan's sudden popularity will cause alarm in Washington after he told his supporters he would end Pakistan's involvement in the war on terror and stop the use of drones to attack militants in its tribal border areas.
