Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has squelched ‘rumours’ about his third marriage, saying he would announce and celebrate publicly if he married again.
“Rumours abt my marriage absolutely baseless. I have not gotten married. When I do I will announce & celebrate publicly,” Khan wrote on his Twitter account.
Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami broke the news that Imran Khan was planning to enter wedlock for a third time. Nizami revealed that the 63-year-old was about to marry a woman belonging to the influential Maneka clan from Pakpattan district of Punjab.
Further reports suggested that the bride, Maryam, was the younger sister of Bushra, a woman who acts as a “spiritual guide” to Khan. The reports said Maryam was divorced and the mother of two children.
After Nizami’s revelations, a private television went on to claim that Khan’s third marriage was solemnised during a simple ceremony in London a few days ago.
PTI spokesperson Naeemul Haq, in a tweet, also denied the report about Khan’s third marriage, and clarified that Khan was spending time with his sons in London and was scheduled to return to Pakistan on Sunday.
Haq however admitted that Khan had a spiritual link with the Maneka clan, but went on to add that Khan had given “all responsibilities regarding his marriage to his sisters”.
Mumtaz Hayat Maneka, a relative of Khan’s spiritual leader, too clarified that Imran has not gotten married to a girl from Maneka clan.
“Let me clear the air. Imran khan’s spiritual leader is my relative. She is getting him married but im sure the girl isnt from Maneka clan,” he said in a tweet.
Pakistan Toady Editor Arif Nizami had broken the news regarding Khan’s marriage with BBC weather girl Reham Khan. The PTI chief and his close aides had denied reports about the wedding and reduced them to mere rumours only to confirm them after some time down the lane.
Nizami again broke the news that the couple was on the verge of signing divorce papers which Khan earlier denied but later went on to confirm the extreme step through his Twitter account. The couple’s marriage lasted just ten months.
Khan was earlier married to English heiress Jemima Goldsmith, sister to the mayoral candidate of London who lost to Sadiq Khan, from 1995 to 2004. Khan had two sons with Jemima.
In an interview with Hindustan Times on Sunday, Khan had said he would contemplate marriage for a third time.
“Of course. It’s not in my blood to give up. But it takes a lot. There’s nothing worse than divorce, I tell you. It’s one of the worst things that can happen to a human being,” Khan said. He added he “would be a bit more careful” about marrying again.
Khan said he hadn’t closed his mind to marriage. “No; it’s even more open than before. But marrying at 60 is not like marrying at 30. The great thing about life is that it’s unpredictable; you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”