PTI chairman Imran Khan addressing a press conference at his residence Bani Gala on Tuesday. PHOTO: AGHA MAHROZ/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD: Barely a week after rubbishing media claims that he had secretly wed a local television anchorperson Reham Khan, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan appeared to confirm the news of his marriage on Tuesday, saying he would share the ‘good news’ with his compatriots within a week.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Imran made no attempt to deny the news about his marriage and instead said a “second marriage is not a crime”.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman maintained that he had delayed the decision due to his children. “Now they [children] are grown up and I will discuss with them and give the good news about my marriage in one week,” he added.
Speaking to MailOnline, Imran confirmed that he had wed 41-year-old divorced mother-of-three Reham Khan days after his family said he had denied it. His sister Aleena reacted with anger at the news, saying she did not want to meet the new Mrs Khan.
The 62-year-old, who divorced heiress Jemima Goldsmith in 2004, said, “I didn’t think of marriage for 10 years after my divorce because my children were small,” adding that “I do not ever think of hurting my children’s feelings.”
Reham, who was born in Libya to Pakistani parents, has three children from her previous marriage to a doctor.
Imran’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith tweeted: “And I hope Imran will be happy in this new phase of his life.”
(cont) ...And I hope Imran will be happy in this new phase of his life.
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) January 6, 2015
She revealed in October that she was ditching the surname ‘Khan’ and reverting to her family name because her ex-husband was about to remarry.
She said at the time: “My ex-husband, Imran, recently announced that he intended to get remarried soon, which made me think it’s probably time to change my name back to Goldsmith.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2014.
COMMENTS (8)
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Nikah is Ibadat & a national tragedy or even a tragedy in family should not have any bearing on it. Islam allows u to marry a woman of any age, if it is mutually consensual, with witnesses. Nikak is a personal matter between man & wife, & no body has the right to criticize. It is just like your marriage, not anybody's business.
i guess its entirely Khan's personal matter, one should not supposed to interfere in his this particular act. But as we 'a nation' waiting for Naya Pakistan & Khan also has been striving for its accomplishment for many months, in this scenario his remarriage news is a surprising one though . Although,there is a view that after heinous Peshawar incident, Khan's integrity & devotion towards party affairs plummeted as his first priority is to find ways for violence-free-Pakistan. So,perhaps its not a suitable time to run on the PTI activities...but marriage is a good option though...
Won the cup for Pakistan, got a cancer-dedicated healthcare facility built; now settle down in your golden years with your lady. And if you really really want to pursue politics, can you please do away with Shaikh Rasheed at the earliest please? This strain of cancer is not treatable even by your army of oncologists at SKMH.
But why did you hide it and lied to your sister even?And you said you will marry after the Naya Pakistan is in place . But congratulations any way and best of luck this time.
Congrats Imran and New Mrs Khan !
Second marriage certainly is not a crime but Lying to the nation is surely a BIG crime!!
But telling the truth is a virtue, IK. Concept of marriage in our religion is to make it 'Public' that this man and this woman are now recognized as partners and will have intimate relationships. Secret marriage and then denying of it is just stupidity and is contrary to the concept of marriage. Is there any definition of truth and lie in your mind? does a line exist or you move the boundaries wherever and whenever it is good for your PR?
Not only second marriage is not a crime, marrying a divorced lady with three children is a great act of humanity but only for that person who has a reasonable source of income. Imran himself lives on donations and party funds, adding four more people to bread bank of donors and party would be a huge burden.