Reham Khan hits out at ex-husband Imran over his rape comments

Imran Khan’s second wife has hit out at the Pakistan Prime Minister after he suggested the way women dress is responsible for rape.

Reham Khan, who was married to the cricketing playboy-turned Pakistan leader for ten months in 2015, joined his first ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith and a host of human rights activists in bashing remarks that he made at the weekend.

Ms Khan, a former BBC presenter, tweeted a link to the 68-year-old’s comments along with the message: ‘The less he speaks the better it will be for all.’

She also responded to another tweet which joked about the couple’s marriage and contrasting personalities by saying: ‘Why do you think it couldn’t work out?’ 

It comes after Goldsmith, who was married to Khan from 1995 until 2004 and has two children with him, tweeted out a passage from the Koran as a rebuke to Khan, adding: ‘The onus is on men.’

The passage says: ‘Say to the believing men that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts.’

Khan’s office has been attempting to defend Khan since his comments hit the headlines, suggesting they had been misconstrued.

The 68-year-old blamed ‘vulgarity’ for rising sex attacks when responding to a question during a Q&A on Sunday, saying that women should dress modestly to avoid being attacked by men who lack ‘willpower’.  

Reham Khan, the second ex-wife of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran, joined criticism of his remarks on rape today - saying 'the less he speaks the better it will be'

Reham Khan, the second ex-wife of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran, joined criticism of his remarks on rape today – saying ‘the less he speaks the better it will be’

It comes after Jemima Goldsmith, his first ex-wife, tweeted out a passage of the Koran contradicting his views - saying the 'onus is on men' to stop sex attacks

 It comes after Jemima Goldsmith, his first ex-wife, tweeted out a passage of the Koran contradicting his views – saying the ‘onus is on men’ to stop sex attacks

Reham Khan and Imran Khan

Pictured: Jemima Goldsmith with Imran Khan following the premiere of 'Emma'  in 1996

Imran and Reham Khan (left) were married for ten months in 2015 before divorcing, while Khan and Ms Goldsmith (right) were married between 1995 and 2004

Khan's office has been trying to defend his remarks since they hit the headlines by suggesting that his meaning has been misconstrued

Khan’s office has been trying to defend his remarks since they hit the headlines by suggesting that his meaning has been misconstrued 

Khan had singled out India’s Bollywood and the ‘sex, drugs and rock and roll’ culture of England in the 70s as examples of the kind of moral decline which he claimed leads to sex attacks.

He then praised the Islamic concept of purdah – or modesty – as an antidote to that decline, saying it is important to ‘keep temptation in check’. 

‘World history tells when you increase fahashi (vulgarity) in society, two things happen: sex crimes increase and the family system breaks down,’ he said.

‘This entire concept of purdah (covering up or segregating) is to avoid temptation, not everyone has the willpower to avoid it.’ 

He added that while his government will introduce legislation to protect women from attacks, it is up to the whole of society to help by preserving modesty.  

A spokesperson for the Government of Pakistan today claimed misperceptions were being spread about Khan’s controversial comments.

They said the Prime Minister spoke about the societal responses and the need to put efforts together to eliminate the menace of rape completely. 

‘Unfortunately, part of his comment, consciously or unconsciously, has been distorted to mean something that he never intended,’ it was said.  

The spokesperson added Khan remains fully committed to utilise all avenues at the government’s disposal to tackle the incidence of rape.         

Twice-divorced Khan, one of the best cricketers of all time, was no stranger to scantily-clad women as he partied in VIP nightclubs during his bachelor life in London.  

His socialite ex-wife Ms Goldsmith took to Twitter to hit back at the comments, quoting the Koran and adding: 'The onus is on men'

His socialite ex-wife Ms Goldsmith took to Twitter to hit back at the comments, quoting the Koran and adding: ‘The onus is on men’

Imran Khan with fashion guru and journalist Susannah Constantine, who he dated before marrying Jemima Goldsmith in 1995

Imran Khan with fashion guru and journalist Susannah Constantine, who he dated before marrying Jemima Goldsmith in 1995 

Imran Khan holds his newborn son Sulaiman beside his wife Jemima as they take part in the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of holy fasting month of Ramadan in Lahore in 1997

Imran Khan holds his newborn son Sulaiman beside his wife Jemima as they take part in the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of holy fasting month of Ramadan in Lahore in 1997

The English public schoolboy famously dated fashion guru Susannah Constantine before marrying glamorous socialite Ms Goldsmith in 1995.

The pair had two sons before their split nine years later, which was in part attributed to the difficulties she faced in Pakistan where she was hounded for her family’s Jewish ancestry. 

Khan’s second marriage ended after nine months in 2015, following a whirlwind romance with former BBC newsreader Reham Khan. 

She had been widely criticised after appearing at public meetings of Khan’s PTI party, with opponents accusing her of seeking to boost her own profile through her husband’s fame.   

His current wife and the First Lady, Bushra Wattoo, was married in a conservative ceremony in Pakistan in 2018, which saw her face totally shrouded in line with Islamic orthodoxy. 

Pointing to his playboy past, Khan said that ‘sex, drugs and rock n roll culture’ in the UK had led to a 70 per cent rise in divorce rates due to ‘vulgarity’.

He also singled out India’s Bollywood, saying Delhi had become ‘a rape capital of the world’ due to indecency and ‘obscenity’ shown in films.

He added that rape is ‘spreading like a cancer’ within Pakistani society and that preserving the Islamic concept of modesty should be used as a defence.

‘Our family system is intact and we can fix our justice system and the institutions but if our family system breaks down, we will not be able to rebuild it,’ he said.

Elizabeth Hurley and Khan during their visit at the earthquake affected area in Balakot, the town of country North West Frontier Province on March 16, 2006

Elizabeth Hurley and Khan during their visit at the earthquake affected area in Balakot, the town of country North West Frontier Province on March 16, 2006

Pictured: Imran Khan seen with model Marie Helvin

Pictured: Imran Khan seen with model Marie Helvin 

Hundreds today signed an online statement which called Khan’s comments on rape ‘factually incorrect, insensitive and dangerous’.

‘Fault rests solely with the rapist and the system that enables the rapist, including a culture fostered by statements such as those made by (Khan),’ the statement said. 

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent rights watchdog, said Tuesday it was ‘appalled’ by the comments.

‘Not only does this betray a baffling ignorance of where, why and how rape occurs, but it also lays the blame on rape survivors, who, as the government must know, can range from young children to victims of honour crimes,’ it said. 

Pakistan is a deeply conservative country where victims of sexual abuse are often viewed with suspicion and criminal complaints are rarely seriously investigated.

Much of the country lives under an ‘honour’ code where women who bring ‘shame’ on the family can be subjected to violence or murder.

Imran Khan and US actress Jerry Hall

Khan with his ex-fiancee Kristiane Backer

Imran Khan and US actress Jerry Hall, left, and with his ex-fiancee Kristiane Backer 

Imran Khan and the Marquis of Worcester and an unknown woman at Annabel's nightclub in London

Imran Khan and the Marquis of Worcester and an unknown woman at Annabel’s nightclub in London

It regularly ranks among the worst places in the world for gender equality.

Data shows that 11 rapes are reported in the country each day, which is thought to be only a fraction of the total, Geo News reported.

Of the 22,000 rapes reported in Pakistan in the last six years, just 77 people have been convicted as a result – a rate of 0.3 per cent which ranks among the lowest in the world.

In February, the forensics department of Khyber Medical College University caused outrage when it suggested that women should be charged for post-rape examinations that help secure convictions.

Nationwide protests erupted last year when a police chief admonished a gang-rape victim for driving at night without a male companion.

The Franco-Pakistani mother was assaulted in front of her children on the side of a motorway after her car ran out of fuel.

Last year, Khan was also criticised after another television appearance where he failed to challenge a Muslim cleric’s insistence that coronavirus had been unleashed because of the wrongdoings of women.

The latest controversy comes as the organisers behind International Women’s Day marches battle what they have called a coordinated disinformation campaign against them, including doctored images and videos circulated online.

It has led to blasphemy accusations – a hugely sensitive issue in Pakistan where allegations have previously led mobs to attack people.

The organisers of the annual rally have called for the prime minister to intervene.

In his weekend TV appearance, Khan also blamed divorce rates in Britain on the ‘sex, drugs and rock and roll’ culture that began in the 1970s, when the twice-divorced Khan was gaining a reputation in London as a playboy. 

In December, Pakistan brought in new laws that will see some rapists chemically castrated.

The introduction of the law came after huge public outcry at the rise in rapes, but activists have cautioned that a change in laws will not solve the problem without an accompanying change in social attitudes.

Much of Pakistan lives under an ‘honour’ code where women who bring ‘shame’ on the family can be subjected to violence or murder and it regularly ranks among the worst places in the world for gender equality.

One of the country’s most high-profile criminal cases in recent years revolved around the so-called ‘honour killing’ of social media star Qandeel Baloch.

Dubbed Pakistan’s Kim Kardashian, Baloch was 26 when she was drugged and strangled to death by her brother in 2016.

He initially confessed to the murder, saying he had acted because his sister had tarnished the family’s ‘honour’. He has since changed his plea.

During her life, Baloch drew praise and derision for her refusal to conform to Pakistani gender and societal norms.

She posted photos emphasising her cleavage, twerked in videos and remained unapologetic despite admitting to receiving death threats.

Baloch’s murder, and the reaction to it, highlighted the gulf between attitudes in mainly conservative Pakistan.

Many pointed out how rare it was for a so-called ‘honour killing’ case to be pursued so vigorously, with Baloch’s brother ending up being convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

The response of authorities to rape cases is similarly patchy, with conviction rates among the lowest in the world. 

Imran Khan’s wives 

WIFE NUMBER ONE: JEMIMA GOLDSMITH

Jemima Goldsmith, who has now returned to her maiden name, is the eldest child of Lady Annabel Goldsmith and Sir James Goldsmith.

Jemima was just 21 years old when she met the 42-year-old Imran Khan, and the couple married in 1995 – first in an Islamic ceremony in Paris and then in a civil ceremony in Richmond, London.

Having converted to Islam, she followed her new husband to Lahore, Pakistan where she learned to speak Urdu.

Khan's wedding to Jemima Goldsmith in Richmond, London, in 1995

Khan’s wedding to Jemima Goldsmith in Richmond, London, in 1995

The couple have two sons, Sulaiman Isa, born in 1996, and Qasim, born in 1999.

During their marriage, she established herself as a philanthropist and social campaigner, fighting for the rights of refugees, freedom of information and various political causes. 

She also began working as a journalist from Pakistan, writing for various British newspapers, and set up a fashion label where the profits were donated to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, named after her mother-in-law.

During their marriage she was subjected to abuse by Imran Khan’s political opponents or those who disagreed with his involvement in politics.

After nine years of marriage, in 2004, the couple announced that they would divorce, citing Jemima’s difficulties to settle in Pakistan.

Speaking in 2011, Khan said he had realised his ex-wife may have been too young and inexperienced to cope with the challenges of his political career.

British-Pakistani Reham Khan was born in Ajdabiya, Libya in 1973

British-Pakistani Reham Khan was born in Ajdabiya, Libya in 1973

WIFE NUMBER TWO: REHAM KHAN 

British-Pakistani Reham Khan was born in Ajdabiya, Libya in 1973.

After studies in Pakistan, she began working as a  broadcast journalist in the UK in the mid-noughties, including as a weather presenter for BBC South Today.

After moving to Pakistan in 2012, she met Imran Khan when she interviewed him for a local TV show.

The following year, in 2013, she began presenting a news programme called NewsOne, and continued to work in TV journalism.

Her relationship with Imran Khan remained secret until the end of 2014 when Jemima Goldsmith announced she was going to return to her maiden name because Imran was going to remarry.

They couple married in January 2015 in a ceremony at his Islamabad home, but divorced ten months later.

After the divorce, Reham revealed that she – like Jemima – had been subjected to a hate campaign in Pakistan and that their marriage had not survived it.

The journalist wrote in the Guardian that she had faced ‘a barrage of abuse’ for marrying a man ‘idolised’ in his homeland by millions.

Reham Khan, who has kept her married name, writes on her website that her attention is now focused on ‘social work and humanitarian efforts in Pakistan’.

Little is known about Bushra Wattoo, a mother-of-five who divorced her first husband last year

Little is known about Bushra Wattoo, a mother-of-five who divorced her first husband last year

WIFE NUMBER THREE: BUSHRA WATTOO, FIRST LADY OF PAKISTAN 

Little is known about Bushra Wattoo, a mother-of-five who divorced her first husband last year.

She is said to be Imran Khan’s ‘spiritual healer’ and the pair reportedly met two years ago during an election campaign.

Wattoo, who is also known as ‘Pinki’, comes from a deeply conservative family from eastern Punjab.

Before their relationship, Khan had sought her out for spiritual healing.

Earlier this year, local media reported that Khan caused the divorce between Wattoo and her ex-husband Khawar Fareed Maneka, something which Mr Maneka later denied.

source: dailymail.co.uk