New Delhi: A day after a leaked manuscript of Reham Khan’s autobiographical book stirred up controversy, a senior Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader claimed on Thursday that she was trying to get her book published in India as Canada and Turkey had refused to do so.
“She has been rejected by Canada and Turkey. We believe that she is trying to get her book published in India with the help of her friends there but won't succeed,” PTI leader Iftikhar Durrani told News18.
Durrani said that Reham’s book was nothing but “pornographic content” inspired by author Nancy Friday, known for her books on gender politics.
In the book, Imran Khan’s ex-wife is said to have made a set of serious allegations against the former cricketer-turned-politician, including accusations of sexual misconduct and harassment. Imran is a prime ministerial hopeful as Pakistan goes to polls on July 25 this year.
The former TV presenter, in an exclusive interview to CNN-News18, said that in the book she reveals instances of rampant sexual coercion and use of sexual favours for political gains within the ranks of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The party chaired by her former husband.
Reham went on to add that some of the accusations were against Imran himself and included instances of both direct and indirect involvement on his part.
“I’ve discussed sexual harassment, sexual coercion and how it is used. How sexual favours are used for political positions, and media positions. And some of those are relate directly to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf,” she said.
Durrani said that there was no doubt that she was sponsored by former PM Nawaz Sharif’s party PML(N).
“There was no legitimate reasoning behind how she’s affording her luxurious lifestyle, including travels across the world,” he added.
“There is a trend. Hussain Haqqani did the same to Benazir Bhutto’s during 1988 elections. In 1997, when Imran Khan fought the elections, he was married to Jemima. During that time too, there was an agenda against him by PML(N) where people pointed to Jemima and that she was Jew, etc. And now, this,” the senior leader said.
Though Reham did not directly accuse Imran or anyone of any particular instance, she said that the book names specific instances naming him and others within and outside the party. She spoke at length about how sexual favours were common within the Pakistani government and media in return for gains, political or otherwise.
According to the former TV presenter, Imran may just hand over Pakistan to the extremists upon assuming office if he wins in July.
“I feel there is a serious risk of handing the reins of a country to someone who is standing with extremists and is backed by people who want to divide us into very extremist groups,” Reham said.
Earlier on Thursday, Jemima Goldsmith, the British-born first wife of Imran, had threatened to sue his second wife Reham for defamation if her upcoming tell-all book is released in the United Kingdom.
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