Former cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, and his wife Reham Khan have filed for divorce, just 10 months after they wed.

DIVORCE: British journalist Reham Khan and head of Pakistan's opposition Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party Imran Khan married in January this year
DIVORCE: British journalist Reham Khan and head of Pakistan’s opposition Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party Imran Khan married in January this year

Imran Khan – head of Pakistan’s opposition political party Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), tied the knot with divorced mother-of-three and ex BBC weather-girl Reham Khan in January this year, sparking an angry backlash from conservative Muslims at the time.

Sources say the couple had argued about her plans to enter politics.

A PTI spokesman made an announcement on Imran Khan’s official Facebook page. Ms Khan also confirmed on Twitter that they had decided to part ways.

The pair got married in January at Mr Khan’s home in Pakistan.

Imran-khan-and-Reham-Khan-wedding-nikkah

A source close the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman said the couple were ‘just not getting along’ any more and that ‘she wanted to get involved with politics and that is not what Khan wanted at all’.

 “There were teething problems as well over other issues which were being resolved but this was a major issue – she wanted to get into politics and was not ready to back down,” disclosed a source.

The former cricketer was previously married to British journalist and activist Jemima Goldsmith for nine years and divorced in 2004. They have two sons who live in the UK.

PTI spokesman Naeem Ul Haque asked for the media to “refrain from any speculation” due to the sensitivity and seriousness of “this extremely painful matter”.

“There will be no further communication in this respect,” he added.

Mr Khan echoed the request to be left alone on Twitter: “This is a painful time for me & Reham & our families. I would request everyone to respect our privacy.”

 

Imran Khan on Twitter
Imran Khan on Twitter

He denied that there had been any financial settlement between them, adding: “I have the greatest respect for Reham’s moral character and her passion to work for & help the underprivileged”.

Reham Khan, a journalist, said on her Twitter page: “We have decided to part ways and file for divorce.”

Last year Imran Khan was at the helm of major protests and rallies calling for political reform and for Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down.