LAHORE – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf spokesperson Naeem-ul-Haque categorically denied reports about the third marriage of PTI chief Imran Khan, shortly after the news made headlines on Tuesday.
The denial was issued after private news channels Geo News and Dunya TV claimed that the cricketer-turned-politician was set to marry a woman, named Maryam, of the Manika Family in Pakpattan, Punjab.
The TV channels claimed that Imran Khan’s soon-to-be wife was the younger sister of a daughter-in-law of the Manika family’s Bushra, alias Pinky.
Imran Khan’s sisters have reportedly opposed the tie-up, just like they opposed the Kaptaan’s second doomed marriage to journalist Reham Khan.
Related: Imran Khan all set to marry for the third time
“Imran Khan considers Bushra his spiritual leader, and she has given him a special ring as well,” the reports said.
However, PTI spokesperson Naeem-ul-Haque took dismissed the reports, calling them baseless rumors.
Rumours about IK getting married are totally wrong. He is spending time with his boys in England and will be back in Pakistan on Sunday.
— Naeem ul Haque (@naeemul_haque) July 12, 2016
“Imran Khan has neither decided on third marriage not he is set to marry the women being quoted in media reports,” he said later, during a press conference.
He explained that Imran Khan was currently in London to spend time with his sons, Kasim and Suleiman, adding that the media would be formally informed about any development regarding the PTI leader’s third marriage.
Renowned journalist Arif Nizami, who had broken the news of Khan’s marriage to Reham Khan last year, back when it was a secret, said that the PTI chief was expected to marry again.
However, the ongoing speculations about his bride and third marriage are premature, he added.
Earlier, in an interview with Hindustan Times on Monday, Khan had hinted at marrying for a third time. During the interview, he also said that his previous divorces had made him an even firmer believer in marriage than before.
When asked if he would contemplate marriage again, Khan replied: “Of course. It’s not in my blood to give up.”
However, the PTI leader also implied that divorce had taken a toll on him, suggesting he would be more cautious in marrying again. “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. It doesn’t matter who initiates it, it’s a terrible experience. So I would be a bit more careful,” he said.
Despite the unhappy endings to his previous marriages, the Kaptaan was still hopeful. “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,” he said.
Imran Khan also said that married life was a very civilized way of spending one’s days. “I am 63 years old and have been married for only 10 years, but I am more of a staunch believer of marriage now [after two divorces] than I ever was,” he said.
Regarding his first divorce with ex-wife Jemima, he said, “It was a very painful ending because it wasn’t a natural ending. But that’s life”. However, he said he did not have any regrets as he had tried his best and so had Jemima, with whom he is still “very friendly”.
“We have a great relationship, which is so good for our children and, Masha Allah, they have turned out to be the biggest blessings and the greatest happiness in our lives,” he added.
Imran Khan had lived alone for 11 years following his first divorce, before marrying 42-year-old Reham Khan, a former BBC weather host and a divorced mother-of-three, in January last year.
However, the couple parted ways only ten months after marriage.
The Pakistani cricket legend-turned-politician also revealed that he had always remained faithful to his spouse while he was married. “I’m very proud to say that while married, I’ve always been faithful. I had told myself I would not indulge in infidelity and I never did. It is the greatest pain a human being can cause to their partner, which is why in all religions it is a sin,” he said.
“I never judge people for what they are. I judge the type of person they aspire to be. You have to be with someone who is stimulating. You know, I’m not into looks that much. I’m not impressed by glamour or fashion. I get impressed by someone who has a belief system and convictions,” he said.
