The news of Imran Khan and Reham Khan’s divorce has been exploited by the media and public
ISLAMABAD: The news of Imran Khan and Reham Khan’s divorce has been exploited by the media and public, even though the PTI chairman requested everyone to respect his privacy. A number of notable personalities, including politicians and celebrities, have had a history of failed marriages. For instance, hardly anyone in Pakistan wouldn’t know about the marital histories of Shahbaz Sharif and Mustafa Khar or the fact that renowned tennis player Aisamul Haq has been formally divorced. But these details were never made the talk of the town.
On the other hand, perhaps the status of Imran Khan as a national hero is the triggering element for his opponents to debate vehemently and ferociously about his personal life. Everyone should realise that the private issues of a leader will have no effect on his political strategies. While the general public may have its biases, the media should at least show more impartiality and neutrality. Whatever may be the reason, everyone should, at least, have the common decency to let someone’s personal issues remain personal ones and not bring them into the public domain. As the media is a representative of the sociopolitical situation of the country, it should, therefore, project a more positive image of the nation and direct the attention of the public towards more crucial dilemmas. Moreover, if the purpose here is to provide entertainment to the public, there are surely better ways in which this can be done than discussing the personal lives of politicians.
Zahra Rafique Bangash
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21th, 2015.
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