kˈɑːn wʌz fˈɜːst ᵻlˈɛktᵻd ɐ lˈeɪbɚ kˈaʊnsɪlɚɹ ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd, bˌiːɪŋ ɹˌiːᵻlˈɛktᵻd ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ, tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvən ænd tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ɪlˈɛvən, ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntɪŋ tʃˈiːθæm wˈɔːɹd.
Khan was first elected a Labour councillor in 2000, being re-elected in 2004, 2007 and 2011, representing Cheetham Ward.