It's true - Mr Khan, who is 70, remains popular. In recent by-elections, his party won six of the eight seats up for grabs.

The most recent rallies by Mr Khan and his PTI, which they have billed as "the long march", were intended to be a visible demonstration of his popularity. เว็บไทเกอร์

Beginning in Lahore, a caravan of protesters were making their way to the capital, Islamabad, to stage a sit-in to put pressure on the government.

It was while Mr Khan was appearing at a protest march in Wazirabad on 3 November - two days after the BBC interview - that a gunman opened fire on his convoy, hitting him in the leg. One person was killed and several others injured.