Confusion around Imran Khan's alleged third marriage

According to reports by a Pakistani daily on Saturday, Pakistan‘s opposition leader and cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan is believed to have tied the knot for the third time with a woman he used to visit for spiritual guidance. The leaders of his party have, however, rejected the report.

The News reported that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman tied the knot on the night of January 1 in Lahore and next day went straight from there to appear before the anti-terrorism court in Islamabad that granted him bail. The daily claimed that the ‘nikah’ was performed by Mufti Saeed, a member of the party’s core committee.

The PTI has rubbished the reports suggesting Khan’s third marriage. The statement said that Khan has proposed marriage to a woman identified as Bushra Maneka. It added that Ms Maneka has sought more time to respond to the proposal. However, PTI’s clarification on the issue has put an end to the rumours surrounding the secret wedding.

“It is unfortunate and regrettable that Umar Cheema of the Jang Group chose to do a conjectural story on PTI Chairman Imran Khan‘s personal life, which also involved another person – a very private lady who is not in public life,” read the statement that was tweeted by PTI’s official Twitter account.

Official Statement issued by Chairman Secretariat. pic.twitter.com/29p2VJu20u

— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 7, 2018

“To set the record straight, Mr Khan proposed marriage to Ms Bushra Maneka; but Ms Maneka asked for time to make a final decision after consulting her family, including her children. It is indeed sad to see this extremely private and sensitive matter be made the subject of an erroneous story leading to all manner of public conjecture. This has put an unacceptable burden especially on the children of Ms Maneka and Mr Khan who have had to learn of such private and intimate issue from the media,” read the statement.

“If and when the proposal is accepted by Ms Maneka for the marriage, Mr Khan will announce it publicly in the proper manner. Till then we request the media to give the two families, especially the children, their privacy,” further read the statement.

Awn Chaudhary, political secretary to Imran Khan also took to Twitter to have his say on the issue. He said, “This is irresponsible yellow journalism. I had categorically denied the veracity of this planted gossip to cheema. Totally concocted story.”

This is irresponsible yellow journalism.I had categorically denied the veracity of this planted gossip to cheema. Totally concocted story.

— Awn Chaudry (@AwnChaudry) January 6, 2018

Khan married British journalist Jemima Khan in 1995 and divorced her in 2004. Incidentally, there were similar reports of a secret second marriage with Reham Khan in November 2014. The couple later tied the knot on January 8, 2015.