Reham Khan’s family has accused Imran Khan’s ex-wife of spreading a series of negative stories about her in the press.
“We know what Jemima is doing,” Reham’s cousin told the Daily Mail on the condition of anonymity.
“We know that she is behind this smear campaign. She doesn’t want Imran’s marriage to succeed because she is jealous,” the cousin added.
However, the cricketer-turned-politician defended the allegations put on his ex.
“Jemima has always been supportive and the idea that she would ever be behind any kind of smear campaign against Reham is absurd as I told The Mail,” tweeted Khan
Imran Khan and Jemima were married for 9 years until the two separated in 2004. Nevertheless, the two had remained on friendly terms; Jemima continued to support Khan on his political career.
“I’ll always love Pakistan. Thanks to my sons & the love I’ve been shown there, I’ll always feel like an honorary Pakistani, no matter what (cont.) …and I hope Imran will be happy in this new phase of his life,” tweeted Jemima on Jan 6, 2015
Nevertheless, Reham Khan’s cousin accused Jemima of being jealous of Reham.
“Jemima can’t get her own man, that’s why she doesn’t want Imran’s marriage to succeed,” said her cousin.
However, Jemima denied being involved in any negative campaign. Her spokesperson told the Daily Mail, “Jemima is fully supportive of her ex-husband. She wished Imran and Reham well at the time of their marriage and continues to do so.”
Further, regarding Imran and Reham’s marriage, the cousin said, “Reham and Imran are in love and very happy together. Reham is going to give an interview, in her own time, in which she will rebut all the baseless allegations against her.”
Reham Khan has been in controversy ever since she was associated with Imran Khan. Soon after they married, Reham’s ex-husband, NHS psychiatrist Dr Ijaz Rehman strongly denied allegations that he had mistreated her during their marriage.
“I 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.” said Dr Rehman.
Dr Rehman also accused her of using him “like toilet paper to clean up her image” after she found herself harshly criticised by traditionalists in Pakistan who saw Imran’s bride as far too westernized.
Moreover, months after their marriage, Reham caught local media’s attention when it was found that Reham had not attended the Lincolnshire college as she had claimed on her personal website. She said she studied journalism at ‘North Lindsay College’ in Scunthorpe. However, the college confirmed that it had never taught journalism and had no record of her being a student. She subsequently changed her website to state that she went to the Grimsby Institute.