Imran Khan Declares Victory In Pakistan Election
VAUSE: The official results aren't out yet, and his rivals alleged vote rigging. But Imran Khan is declaring victory in Pakistan's general election. He rose to fame as a cricket star, but he's no newcomer to politics. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh has more now on Khan's rise to power.</s>NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: An historic height in an extraordinary journey. Cricket star turns socialite, turned political firebrand, Imran Khan is close to becoming Pakistan's new prime minister after a bitterly fought election that's upturned Pakistan's tightly controlled political order. And casting the sporting icon at a sometimes anti-American force for change. Born into a wealthy family in the hall, Khan soon discovered his gifts as a fast bowler, leading Pakistan to its first and only Cricket World Cup victory in 1992. And Khan to become the national hero in a country where cricket is always worshipped and politicians often reviled. He retired from the sport and after a spell as an international playboy, he married his first wife, wealthy London social life, Jemima Khan. A family man, he raised money for charities. One, building a cancer hospital in his home city Lahore. But, back in the turmoil and injustice of 90s, Pakistan, his political ambitions grew. Founding a new party, The Pakistan Movement for Justice. His central pitch, to end corruption among the country's ruling elite. Pakistani politics has few umpires or rules though and is often marred by violence and coups. He was briefly arrested in 2007 for criticizing military leader General Pervez Musharraf. In just a month later, a political rival, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on the campaign trail. But still, Khan kept his sights on the Premiership. By 2013, it could marshal huge crowds and win the vote in one Pakistani province. He remained a distant third, however, nationwide. His conservatism grew was well religious, planning American interference and favoring Pakistan's drastic and sometimes brutal blasphemy laws. This year, he wrote a populist wave, promising to fight for equality and get tough on terror. His vision he says it's the renew Pakistan. Quite what that means, his critics don't know.</s>ZAHID HUSSAIN, CORRESPONDENT, THE TIMES, LONDON: It's not very clear what really he wants to do. He wants to change the system but nobody knows exactly what kind of change could he bring.</s>WALSH: His supporters think, any change is good.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We are supporting Imran Khan, because of his promise to stop corruption in Pakistan. We are hopeful that we will have a better future, our children will have a better future.</s>FAKHIRA JAN, SUPPORTER OF IMRAN KHAN (through translator): This is the first time anyone has treated us as human beings. But we have rights too, somebody is finally saying we also need medicine, and education, and other things.</s>WALSH: Yet this is just the first innings you'll need to form a stable government, handle a looming economic crisis, and navigate the powerful army who really decide the winners in Pakistani politics and may still be unsure about this charismatic reformist outsider. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Islamabad.</s>VAUSE: Well, next on "NEWSROOM L.A. Despite a court order deadline, hundreds of parents still do not have their children after they're taken by immigration officials on the U.S. border with Mexico.