Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan clarified early Tuesday morning that his wife, Reham Khan, will neither contest elections on a party ticket nor will attend any party gatherings.
Reham Khan will not contest elections on a PTI ticket.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 18, 2015
In a series of tweets, the PTI chairman expressed ‘disgust’ over attacks on Reham after the party lost NA-19, Haripur elections to a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate. “She only went to campaign there on insistence of the candidate,” he defended.
I am appalled & disgusted by attacks on Reham after our loss in NA 19 elec. She only went to campaign there on insistence of the candidate.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 18, 2015
“For the record, Reham has only attended PTI functions at the constant insistence of PTI members, especially the women,” he added.
For the record, Reham has only attended PTI functions at the constant insistence of PTI members, especially the women.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 18, 2015
Further, Imran said, “Reham Khan will hold no party position, no position in KP; nor will be given any official protocol.”
Claiming that Reham “already has too much on her plate, especially working with street children,” Imran said she will not attend any PTI function or event.
Reham Khan already has too much on her plate, esp working with street children. In future, she will not attend any PTI function/event.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 18, 2015
Despite this, Imran stressed his wife was ‘politicised’ and politicisation of women was one of the achievements of his sit-in held last year in the federal capital against the incumbent government.
However, Reham is politicised. One of the great achievements of our dharna was to make our women & youth politicised 1/2
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 18, 2015
2/2 Because only when people are politicised can they fight effectively for their rights & against injustice.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 18, 2015
The PTI chief also maintained that in NA-246 by-polls, he insisted Reham to visit Karachi and the constituency.
In NA 246 bye election, I insisted Reham come to Khi & visit NA 246. We wanted to challenge the fear factor & get women voters out to vote.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 18, 2015
Reham had officially grabbed the driving seat for PTI in NA-19, Haripur and had been actively campaigning for the party during the by-polls. Earlier, Imran and his wife had denied rumours over the latter’s plans to enter the political arena. However, recent developments contradicted these claims. Reham addressed the political meetings in Hindko, Pashto and Urdu and urged locals to vote for Zaman.
However, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Babar Nawaz emerged as the clear winner in the by-election, securing a little less than double the votes that his closest rival had, unofficial results showed on Sunday.
