News Analysis |
Reham Khan, the ex-wife of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, has recently predicted that she will be writing a book about her life. While giving an interview to Dawn News on 6th February, she announced that she’ll be staying in the UK until her book is finished. Even though Reham officially announced the release of her book on 6th February, senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi had announced the release of her book on 3rd August 2017.
The question being asked among all media circles is that how did Hanif Abbasi come to know about the book months before the official announcement by Reham herself? Reham has constantly denied having ties with PML-N members. She claimed, “I have no link with Hanif Abbasi, Abid Sher Ali or any other PML-N leader. And it might be hard to believe that a PML-N leader actually requested me not to say anything about my personal life or Imran Khan and he repeatedly made this request,” while giving an interview to a private news channel on 7th February.
PML-N has been trying to portray Imran as a degenerate and immoral personality. If Reham’s book contains any further prediction to reinforce this bias, it might prove to be disastrous for PTI.
On the other hand, Hanif Abbasi has totally denied have any ties with Reham Khan even though he claimed with confidence that Reham will release a book that will destroy Imran Khan. “Fear the book that will be released before 2018 [elections] by Reham Khan, that book will surely be released, you won’t be able to show your face again in Pakistan, ”Abbasi declared outside the Supreme Court (SC) in August 2017.
Read more: Why criticism on Khan’s marriage is unfair
While speaking to a private news channel on 20th February, Abbasi stated, “I merely made a prediction that Reham would write a book based on my experience, I didn’t know that when she would write it”. His statement is considered to be a total U-turn from his original stance. He didn’t predict but actually claimed that she was writing a book. He also stated that his pictures with Reham Khan were taken during their partnership in some welfare projects but other than that, he didn’t know her.
Sources within PTI have spoken to GVS on the condition of anonymity about the Reham Khan issue. They have revealed that PML-N have bought a new house for Reham in London and also provided her with a ghost writer to write her book. The book is said to be filled with malignant propaganda against Imran Khan to tarnish his reputation and PTI’s chances for winning the upcoming 2018 elections.
The consequences of Reham’s book are not clear since she has become a very controversial personality in Pakistan’s media circles. Meanwhile, Imran is also facing a lot of heat by the media for his third marriage.
Personal attacks in politics have a long history in Pakistan but they have always been condemned in media and civil society circles. PML-N’s role in dragging Imran Khan’s personal life is considered to set a wrong precedent and create a hurdle in the creation of a true democracy. Political experts believe that what an individual does in their personal life should have nothing to do with their political career since a politician should be judged only for their policies.
Read more: Twitter reacts to Reham Khan’s innuendoes
Imran Khan might launch a case against Reham Khan and Hanif Abbasi for tarnishing his reputation. The consequences of Reham’s book are not clear since she has become a very controversial personality in Pakistan’s media circles. Meanwhile, Imran is also facing a lot of heat by the media for his third marriage. PML-N has been trying to portray Imran as a degenerate and immoral personality. If Reham’s book contains any further prediction to reinforce this bias, it might prove to be disastrous for PTI.