Imran Khan's ex-wife Reham Khan gives Pervez Musharraf lesson in gender equality

NEW DELHI: An ex-wife of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan yesterday gave a lesson in gender equality to former Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf.


Khan's second ex-wife Reham Khan has been in the news lately for her reportedly tell-all memoir - which is said to include salacious details - about her months married to Khan.

Three days ago, Musharraf retweeted a post from his political party which said, among other things, that Reham, being a woman - or "lady" as the tweet said - should be "ashamed of herself" for writing whatever she has reportedly written about. The tweet also said Reham was being used by another political party, the PML(N), to further its agenda.

"Reham khan is being used by PML(N) I have read some content in WhatsApp messages she should be quite ashamed of herself you don't write such things and specially a lady doesn't write such things," said a tweet by the Musharraf-founded party All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), which the former dictator retweeted.


Reham was having none of it. Who is anyone else to decide, when and what a woman should speak she asked, according to ANI news agency.

"General Pervez Musharraf has tweeted that a lady should not speak such things. It means, men can do anything, but lady should keep quiet after seeing a lot. The question that arises is why? Why shouldn't I or any other woman speak? Who will decide as what women should speak and write and what should she should get exposed to. This is wrong," said Reham to ANI.

Reham, a British-Pakistani journalist, was married to cricketer-turned-politician and Prime Minister (PM) aspirant Khan from January 2015 until October 30, 2015, when they divorced.

Pakistan goes to the polls next month and PML(N) - the disgraced, disqualified PM Nawaz Sharif's party - will be contesting against, among others, Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Reham's reportedly explosive book has unsavoury details about former cricket captain Khan which some say could hurt his chances of becoming Pakistan's PM.

That's why Musharraf claimed the PML(N) was using Reham to for its own political ends. Musharraf himself wanted to contest, representing APML, but he was last week barred by the country's Supreme Court from doing so after several no-shows in court in connection with a case.

Reham, of course, rubbishes Musharraf's allegations.

"I have no relations with the PML(N) and I have never interacted and met Nawaz Sharif. To be honest, Nawaz Sharif is so strong now as never before. That's not because of my book, which has not been released as yet. In the past one year, his position has changed. Earlier, he was the Prime Minister, now people across parties are appreciating him. I am not on their agenda," she told ANI.

Meanwhile, there's no love lost between Musharraf and Sharif. After all, in 1999, it was Musharraf - then an army general - who staged a coup to take over Pakistan and placed then PM Sharif under house-arrest.

Now, long-time Pakistan observers say Khan's candidacy has the backing of the country's army, a prospect that makes many uncomfortable. In fact, former army general Musharraf has also been backing Khan.

"His [Imran's] popularity is on the rise, and he has the potential to improve the country's situation and do something beneficial for Pakistan," said Musharraf to the Pakistani press last month.

Pakistan goes to the polls on July 25.

Explore the yearly horoscope 2025 for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces zodiac signs. Don't miss the Chinese horoscope 2025 for Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig zodiac signs.