Imran Khan’s ancestral home in India carries a remarkable family history

Imran Khan is widely known as one of Pakistan’s greatest sporting legends. From leading Pakistan to its historic 1992 Cricket World Cup victory to becoming a philanthropist and later a political leader, his journey has crossed several generations of South Asian history. But behind the public figure is a fascinating family connection to India that continues to attract attention.

Imran Khan’s maternal family has deep roots in Jalandhar, Punjab, India. His mother, Shaukat Khanum, belonged to a prominent Burki family from the city. Khan has previously said that his maternal ancestors lived in Jalandhar for more than 600 years before the Partition of British India in 1947. (India Today⁠)

One of the most talked-about properties connected with his family is the historic “Peeli Kothi” in Jalandhar’s Basti Danishmanda area. Reports have identified the colonial-era house as belonging to Khan’s maternal family. Local residents have recalled stories about the property, including its large rooms and lawns, and its connection with the family before Partition. (TheQuint⁠)

The Partition changed the family’s story forever. Like millions of Muslim families who moved to Pakistan in 1947, Khan’s maternal relatives left Jalandhar and eventually established their lives in Lahore. According to reports, Imran Khan later spoke about the emotional impact of the relocation, describing the experience as traumatic for a family that had spent generations in the city. (The Tribune⁠)

The Jalandhar connection is particularly interesting because Imran Khan’s family also had a strong tradition of public service and sport. His maternal relatives were associated with the establishment of Islamia College in Jalandhar, while the wider Burki family produced several prominent cricketers. Khan himself grew up surrounded by relatives who were deeply involved in Pakistani cricket. (India Today⁠)

Khan’s connection to his family’s past was not simply a historical footnote. He reportedly visited Jalandhar in 2004, where he saw places associated with his ancestors. Relatives also visited the city in later years, keeping the family’s connection with its pre-Partition roots alive. (India Today⁠)

Today, the story of Imran Khan’s ancestral connection to Jalandhar offers a reminder of how deeply intertwined the histories of India and Pakistan remain. His political career may divide public opinion, but his sporting achievements and philanthropic work have given him a lasting place in South Asian popular culture.

The old family home in Jalandhar therefore represents more than a building. It is a link to a past shaped by family, migration, Partition and changing borders — a personal history that connects one of Pakistan’s most famous figures with the Indian city where generations of his maternal family once lived.