It is a fact, so many of my customers, mostly white English also know awful lot about IK.
They all talk good about him, and all know he would be pulled down by the corrupt thugs.
Some arab guys I have come across said the same thing like OP narrated. Arab public are taking close interest in Pakistan's politics due to Imran Khan.
I had a White colleague , we used to talk about Pakistani politics during lunch breaks etc before the last elections. He said to me that if IK wins, the corrupt thugs would either pull him down or kill him. He wouldn't be allowed to do anything against corruption.
The guy was a PHD, he was right, the current situation bearing all the marks of what he used to discuss with me.