A file photo of PTI chief's wife, Reham Khan. PHOTO: AFP
In a simple yet most-talked about ceremony, Imran tied the knot with Reham at Bani Gala on January 8. Reham, who hosts a current affair show on Dawn News, opened up about her turbulent previous marriage in a TV interview recently.
'Thanks to Allah, I am not scarred by my experience. Domestic violence is a big issue and no attention is paid to it in Pakistan. [It] happens in many shapes and forms," Reham said.
"I have never spoken about my personal experience of domestic violence because I was in [the] media and I felt it would be unfair to expose the other party," she added.
She also said that she was reluctant to accept Imran's proposal because of what took place during her previous marriage, which ended in 2006 after 15 years.
"When I talked to my family about it, we all had the same reservations, especially because when you have been through such a horrendous experience."
''When I talked to my brother about it, he had this only reservation — that [the domestic violence] wouldn't be repeated."
Her claims have provoked fury from her first husband.
Ex-husband responds
Dr Rehman rejected the allegations made by Reham and said he has never hit anyone, and have never been involved in any kind of domestic violence in any shape or form.
"I always looked after my children and wife very well. My ex-wife had every kind of liberty. "I am surprised that these allegations were made," he added.
The former husband of Reham, who still lives in Britain, further said, "domestic violence is a serious offence".
"I work in a very senior position in the NHS and if I was convicted or charged or found involved in domestic violence, in any sense, I wouldn't have been able to practice," he clarified.
COMMENTS (60)
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@Khalid Javaid: quite a few Indian men are also perpetrators of domestic violence.
Beautiful couple and cute Reham Khan ever seen. let us prey for their success in their life and do not criticize about their marriage . Anchor ,Samia Khan of GEO should refrain from giving statement that their marriage will not continue even though she did not marry yet,still bachelor at the age of 40 and she is telling the fortune of the people, astonish?
It a pretty common practice of the female gender to get their way out of any marriage by speculating domestic and financial issues whereas the very reason for breaking up the marriage may be something else. As mentioned in the article; The husband holds a respectable position and that too in a liberal country and the wife herself a well educated women again in the same liberal country; If she was so disturbed and stricken by the violence and treatment she could have always resorted to the law. But not the case here. I believe Reham should refrain from such comments and save her former husband from any false accusations which can seriously distort his image.
Mrs. IK please stop media trail of your husband, especially as he may not always explain his point of view. Don't wash the dirty linen in public. Spare us your private and personal life. these issues are off limit. If you are interested to mention them than make your husband sit next to you (without compulsion but free will). If he refuses you should just shut up. In short please keep your bed room door closed to public.
It is never wise to wash your dirty laundry in public.
Go Imran Go and enjoy your honeymoon.
The best thing this TV reporter Mrs. Khan can do is to disappear from the horizon of the public domain. That would be best for her as well for the future of her new husband. The more attention she seeks-( which she is doing )- the more problems will arise for her future married life with Imran Khan. As she claims to be a Pushtoon, she must not forget the old Pushto saying about respectable Pushtoon women………their existence is known only to their family.
And it does again bring into question the ability of IK in regards to JUDGING people that are allowed to become close to him both in politics and otherwise
Imran Khan is twenty years older than his spouse. Makes you wonder why he would perpetuate a cultural norm that should be discarded especially if one is constantly talking about Naya Pakistan. Naya Pakistan same as the old Pakistan.
Most of our brothers have bad nature to comment on people personal matters they act like Hyenas the best is Mitti Pao
Shame on the tribune for such bad reporting. The interview in which said talked about domestic violence has nothing to do with her marriage to IK...it is available on YouTube. Shame on you all for miscontruing the facts and spreading hatred just for money. May Allah run down Ur paper for spreading hatred and animosity just for material gains!
She seems a smart cuckoo/cooky. Even knowing and being too young for Dr. Rehman, she managed to have him as husband and used him as ladder to enjoy life and be recognized same time, and then when the time was right for the second step up, she chose IK to fly further high. It is amazing that she is blaming her ex husband for domestic abuse and same time left three children of less than ten years old behind to continue enjoying life. What a lack of motherhood and lust of fame and power? It is shame. Well, she got what she wanted. Same is the case with IK. Both are self obsessed, unreal and hungry of recognition in my opinion. I do not think they will last long. Even though there are issues of domestic violence in Pakistan and in which society it is not, but trying to use this irrelevant and seemingly untrue story to divert the public attention from past blunders and dharna stupidities is nothing but mean and political blunder on IK side. Ik needs to grow and become real. Having said that, I will not deny that due to dharna an awakening has come in Pakistan but, more credit goes to Mr. Qadri who provided him a strong shoulder and political wisdom. Without PAT's participation in dharna, side by side strength, and guidance, IK and his PTI was nothing. Leadership demands leaders' like qualities. speaknothingbutruth@gamial.com
It is better for the weather girl to remain at home and talk less in the present circumstances than to try to act up as a First Lady.
Lies lies lies the woman is a liar I mean khan open your eyes before it is too late She would sell you.and you would not even know
Without any affiliation or bias IK's face expression to me did not look normal, his behavior on stage during dharna was not of a cool thinking person. We as a nation have been extremely disappointed by the PPP regime as well as PML-N. and in a state of utter frustration and a political vacuum IK made the best use of it and poor public in general ran after him.Now when he has emerged as a leader let us wait and see. After such a shortage of and gas and power and people's suffering non of the two parties are not likely to be in power.let us wish the couple best and no comments on their past personal lives PLEASE. Separation from their children is a trauma for both of them.
@F Khan: Very balance and great comments. I hop she will understand your comments.
For a woman to talk about domestic violence she suffered is an act of courage.
I don't understand why so many commenters here are against it.
Reham khan was put on the spot o. Live TV and asked the direct qurstion about domestic abuse in her previous matriage- she was not the one to bring it up. That too, was in an olddd interview way before she married IK. Shame on tribune for posting out of context news- what bad reporting!!!! Anyone can watch that interview in youtube !
It feels as if I am watching an episode of House of Cards… politics at its best.
Domestic violence is a serious problem and her bravely speaking out about it mainstreams discussion of this critical issue, so that is to be appreciated. As for the he-said-she-said aspect of the whole thing, I personally don't care because this is not about punishing her ex-husband but about discussing domestic violence as a problem.
In my opinion it is in fact Reham who has actually debunked the fake modern audience of our regressive and big mouth society. Pakistan is still a Hindu society where widows and divorcees are stigmatized as outcasts.
I don't support any political or religious parties in Pakistan so no one should tag me as bias. I DO BELIEVE HER STORY because I have seen it time after time in the homes of some of the Pakistanis living abroad.
Domestic violence does not only includes physical violence but all sorts of mistreatment. Our culture knows very well how we treat the female and specially by the husbands and in-laws. It seems that in our society it is OK to cheat on wife but the wife has to take it calmly. I have seen Pakistani men living in the US specially those from K-P who mistreat their wives physically and emotionally. some of these wives are not educated and depend solely on the mercy of their husbands. LET US NOT DOUBT HER WORDS, being married to a psychiatrist is a trauma itself, they bring all the problems of their patients to their private lives and then take it out on the ones who are near and dear to them. I know personally a Pakistani psychiatrist albeit a smart one who ran off with a young American girl and when that did not work out, came back to his highly educated wife who was supporting 3 kids of theirs, and wife being a Pakistani girl and from P-K, let him come home because she did not want a broken house regardless how bad the treatment she has been doled out. Domestic violence is prevalent all over the world but now it has been coming to surface specially in the US, they have enacted laws which is barely scratching the surface. All I will ask you to refrain from being so critical of Reman who could very well be telling the truth and most likely kept quite as most of the Pakistani wives do in Pakistan and abroad. We men from K-P know our culture and above all ourselves very well and let us not be hypocritical about it. I could only speak about K-P and it's macho culture because I am from K-P.
Getting married is personal affair. Yet IK and his family make sure to make it a public affair. Then everybody condemns media for making it public. The grief stricken families of Pakistan do not need these marriage, divorce soup opera. No dirty laundry in public please. Can we tackle the real problems of Pakistan like terrorism?
Reham:
You have started a new life, therefore, forget about the past.
Take care of yourself, children and of Imran.
I wish you a happy life.
ET is fast becoming a tabloid.
She looks like a princess. This was not the right moment to vent. Wishing Imran and Reham a happy married life.
Mrs. Imran Khan was born in Libya, brought up in England, lived there her whole adult life, worked in world's most powerful organization but she never reported domestic abuse and violence to seek help from authorites. Before coming to Pakistan she had no connection with Pakistan but she has blamed Pakistani society for her mistreatment.
Why the need for this controversy now? media hogging?
What kind of mother leaves her three children when they are under ten years of age. Almost in all cases, barring few exceptions, the mother takes and lives with the under age children in the west. Her's seems to be a voluntary surrender of her children.
Every lie will get nipped in the bud http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2909148/SEBASTIAN-SHAKESPEARE-m-no-wife-beater-insists-ex-Imran-s-new-bride.html
Domestic violence? Emotional abuse? these two terms are not inter-changeable in the rest of the world. They have different meanings, I think. That man is the father of your 3 kids, and I would choose my words more carefully if I were you. If he really were a wife-abuser, how come he gets the custody of the children? And can such a person be on the NHS payroll, gaining a right to treat the most vulnerable psychiatric patients? Maybe in one of our Civil Haspataals, but not in the UK, sweeties. Stop lying please. We've had enough fibs from your Hubby Dearest already.
Seriously ET, give her a break!
@Sodomite:
Just watch how this woman will one day become a Zardari.....her Benazir Bhutto would be Imran Khan.
@Adnan Siddiqi: You are right. In the UK domestic violence results in criminal penalties and her ex-husband would have been debarred from NHS from practicing psychiatry. Especially giving treatment to people who are fragile and seeking psychiatric help. Sad to say that IK chose a partner just like himself, a politician, perhaps making her our Evita Peron??
Get a life pls! Why is this on the front page? She said this in an interview and i am sure most of the ppl heard the interview. I dont think there was any need to just EXTRACT this part and make headline news out of it. Cheap journalism.
Domestic voilence is a esay tool to use...
Bad timing. This is going to undo whatever good IK has done in the last few years.
Fact correction: Reham had referred to domestic "abuse" not 'violence'...she also explained that abuse can be of many types. And in that case, both Reham and ex-hubby may be right - you dont necessarily have to 'hit' someone to abuse them.
Stop making news rather than reporting it.
ILZAM Khan and that says it all..
For me it seems difficult to accept the strong allegation made by Reham since she resided in Britain where such practices are not possible; further the kind of liberalism that we had seen at Rehams end - not possible that she would be a victim of a domestic violence-I may be wrong but it certainly is hard to believe
I am utterly shocked that Mrs. khan would talk about her previous marriage at this time - I hope this revelation is not to create any distraction from her current husband's irrational political moves or perhaps just trying to get people start talking about something else instead of her pics from bbc days- most importantly kids are involved here and they should be the priority-
i don,t agree with the statement of Reham khan ... the simple dispute was age difference.. when Reham realized that she is too young to her Ex husband she started breaking the limits, which ultimately ends at divorce.
There are many wide angled controversies about Reham Khan personality. Imran Khan decision in this regard is quite controversial especially while he continues to talk about Iqbaliat ..... State of Madina etc ........
Yes Dear Honey Trap throw your EX husband under the bus after all he fathered 3 of your children ! Lets see how long this lasts after all both of you have a track record ! Cheers !
Thanks ET to rewriting the interview of Mubshar Lukman show. Try to bring positive things, she also talked about her struggle and hardships being a single parent those could also be printed as a report. But still thanks of bringing the issue of domestic violence, remember most women does't report it because family, brother, brother-inlwas and father feel it disgraceful, I wonder when your sister, daughter being it how can it b disgraceful, it should be disgraceful for the person who is hitting a woman who is his better-half. Reham Khan past experience should not be a news. Issue should be a news , which is Domestic Violence and it is very high in Pakistan. I recommend each reader to always support survivor/victim of violence because one slap on face takes to that person which other cannot even imagine.
not worth commenting, IK and her wife both are not worth discussing. disappointed all of us
hopefully she can influence Imran to be a bit more sensative about women rights issues than he has been in the past
To the bride a suggestion
"Miti pao"
It is wise to keep the past in past. Greatness come from being able to ride over disagreement. if the pretax is for future then you already aren't wise enough.. May Allah bless you
Come on ET. You need just a Masala to add to the news. Her ex has catagorically denied it so leave it.
Lol. Had there been domestic violence on the male's part the children would not have been in his custody. It's a simple matter of Reham cheating on her husband which led to her divorce!
Now she is a wife of blame gamer that's why this lady starting blaming her first touch husband. If she was a victim of domestic violence then how she brought three kids.??
Two things: 1. Reham Khan is a broadcast journalist. Please don't reduce her identity to just "Imran Khan's wife". This is with specific reference to the image and text shared on social media about this story. 2. In her first television interview with her new husband, Reham talked about domestic abuse, but was very specific that the abuse wasn't physical. She also (correctly) said that abuse in general is not limited to physical violence but can take other shapes.
Please do a little bit of fact-checking to make the story accurate. Not reporting an important piece of information like this is also misreporting.
Dr Rehman kay saath dhandli hogyeee!!!
This is only the beginning of the mud slinging that this union is going to trigger. All parties associated with this couple are going to suffer. Wait till the PLMN trolls dig up more dirt on the newlyweds and use it to malign PTI in the near future.
Whether its true or false but it is very common in Pakistan and with Pakistani Men (mentality) across the world.
Madam, a piece of advise. You have just made a blunder. Do not speak about your past married life. It is your personal issue.You being IK wife now are a public figure.You will not be able to prove after 9 years of separation about the domestic violence with no complaint logged. You are doing the same mistake which IK is doing labeling charges of electoral ringing without proof.
ET has been caught with spreading false information related to IK's new wife before and I am sure there is something not be reported correctly here as well. In any case, its a bit surprising that Reham has to talk about her previous marriage just after marry Imran, she said she wasn't saying much about her previous husband since she was in the media but this is still valid isn't it ?
why does the media have to dig it's face everywhere....
The effects of her marriage with Kaptaan has started to show.......Lying.