Imran Khan with his third wife Bushra Bibi (X.com/@Chellaney)
Former Pakistan cricketer-turned-politician, Imran Khan was born in Lahore in 1952. His journey from a cricketing hero leading Pakistan to its first-ever World Cup victory in 1992, to becoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2018, has been nothing short of spectacular.
Khan's marriages have been as diverse and intriguing as his public persona and have brought their own unique set of challenges and experiences and played a significant role in shaping different aspects of his life.
Each of his marriages has attracted considerable attention due to his high profile and the diverse backgrounds of his spouses. Here’s a detailed look at Imran Khan’s Wives.
Who is Imran Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi?
Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi (X.com/@Independent)
Bushra Bibi, born into a conservative, politically influential family from central Punjab, Pakistan, has made a significant impact on the life of Imran Khan. Hailing from the Wattoo clan, a landowning Jat group, and specifically from the Manekas, a sub-clan of this group, her roots are deeply entrenched in the region's socio-political landscape.
Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi’s first marriage in 1989 was to Khawar Maneka, a senior Customs official and son of Ghulam Muhammad Maneka, a former federal minister in Benazir Bhutto's cabinet. The couple, however, divorced in 2017. From this marriage, Bushra Bibi has three daughters and two sons. Her children have pursued their education and personal lives within and beyond Pakistan.
What does Bushra Bibi do?
Bushra, as a devotee of Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar, or Baba Farid, a revered Muslim mystic and Sufi saint, is a known and respected Sufi scholar, spiritual mentor, and a faith healer. She has been described as a leader of pilgrimages to Baba Farid's shrine.
Bushra Bibi's role as the First Lady of Pakistan is marked by her personal choice to wear the Niqab. Her approach to this role is characterized by a focus on spiritual and moral responsibilities, rather than political.
How did Imran Khan meet his wife, Bushra Bibi?
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s first meeting reportedly in 2015, was a result of shared spiritual interests. Khan, known for his increasing inclination towards Sufism, frequently visited Baba Farid’s shrine in Pakpattan. His visits often extended to the Maneka family’s residence.
Bushra Bibi, at that time married to Khawar Maneka, was a respected Sufi scholar, mentor, and faith healer. Khan’s admiration for her spiritual standing and guidance in difficult situations sowed the seeds of a deep, respectful relationship.
When did Imran Khan get married to his wife?
Imran and Bushra's marriage has always been surrounded by controversies (X.com/@AJEnglish)
Their relationship took a significant turn towards matrimony when Imran learned of Bushra's divorce. Imran married Bushra in 2018 in a private Nikah ceremony in Lahore, which was attended by close family and friends. Imran Khan Bushra Bibi's marriage was a decision marked by spiritual and intellectual resonance rather than physical attributes, as stated by Imran in various interviews.
Who were Imran Khan's Previous Wives?
Imran Khan's first wife, Jemima Goldsmith
Imran Khan's first wife, Jemima Goldsmith (X.com/@IbnBaller1)
Imran's first marriage was to Jemima Goldsmith, a British heiress and film producer. The couple married in 1995 in a two-minute ceremony conducted in Urdu in Paris. A month later, a civil ceremony was held at the Richmond registry office in England, followed by a lavish reception in the ballroom of the Goldsmiths' Surrey estate.
However, the marriage faced challenges, primarily due to the intense media scrutiny in Pakistan and the political pressures faced by Imran, who was then developing his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The couple had two sons, Sulaiman Isa and Kasim, and despite their efforts to bridge cultural and geographical divides, they divorced in 2004. Jemima cited the difficulty of settling in Pakistan and the impact of political life on their family as reasons for the separation.
Imran Khan's second wife, Reham Khan
Reham Khan, Imran Khan's second wife (X.com/@K_CTID)
Imran Khan's second marriage was to Reham Khan, a British-Pakistani journalist. The couple got married in a simple ceremony at Imran Khan's residence in Islamabad in January 2015. This marriage, too, was subject to immense public interest, both within Pakistan and internationally.
The marriage with Reham Khan, however, was short-lived. The couple faced public scrutiny, and there were differences in their lifestyles and political views. Additionally, Reham's involvement in politics, particularly in PTI, became a subject of controversy. The marriage ended in a divorce in October 2015, after just ten months.
FAQ: Imran Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi
Q.1. Who was Imran Khan's first wife?
Ans. Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician, Imran Khan’s first wife, Jemima Goldsmith, is an English television and film producer and a screenplay writer by profession. She is also the founder of ‘Instinct Productions’, a television production company.
Q.2. Who is the third wife of Imran Khan?
Ans. Imran Khan’s third wife is Bushra Bibi, who is a Pakistani Faith healer with a foot in politics.
Q.3. What is the religion of Imran Khan's wife Jemima?
Ans. According to Wikipedia, Imran Khan’s first wife, Jemima Goldsmith (later Jemima Khan), originally belonged to a Jewish family, but before her marriage to Imran, she converted to Islam to minimize the scrutiny caused because of their union.
Q.4. How old was Jemima when she married Imran?
Ans. The London-born Jemima Goldsmith was only 21 years old when she married the former Pakistan cricketer Imran Khan.
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