The ex-wife of former cricket star Imran Khan has claimed he is ‘narcissistic’ and ‘a hyprocrite who will do anything to get into power’- on the cusp of the Pakistan elections which he is widely expected to win.
Reham Khan, 45, met Imran after she moved to Pakistan five years ago and interviewed him for a TV channel.
She was married to the former Pakistan cricket captain for less than a year and told the Sunday Times: ‘He’s the only celebrity we have in Pakistan and expects everyone to do everything,’ she said.
‘I told him, ‘You’re like Rapunzel in the tower — you have no connection to real life.” She added: ‘He’s so narcissistic and singleminded about his goal [of becoming prime minister] that he forgets the appropriate emotional response to things.’
Imran Khan, ex Pakistan cricket international and philanthropist has been criticised by his ex-wife Reham Khan, who described him as a narcissist
Imran Khan married former BBC weather presenter Reham Khan (pictured on air), but it lasted less than a year
Reham has written a new book in which she writes: ‘He thinks he’s God. I married him because I believed in him and his mission, but it’s all fake.’
As for Khan’s marriage to Jemima, who is of Jewish descent, Reham claims this took place because he is close to ‘active Zionists’.
The marriage reportedly broke down because Jemima found life difficult in Pakistan, especially when her husband’s political career took off.
But Jemima has furiously rebutted Reham’s claims, and has threatened to sue her for libel.
Imran Khan with his bride Reham Khan, posing for a photo during a ceremony at his home in Islamabad, Pakistan in January
Reham Khan, when she presented the weather for the BBC. She has written an explosive memoir about her ex-husband Imran Khan, claiming he takes hard drugs
One of Khan’s closest advisers told the Mail on Sunday: ‘This book is simply a farrago, a pack of absolute lies.’
The source added that during Khan’s ill-starred liaison with Reham, he had ‘never seen him so unhappy’.
The man himself would never stoop to comment on the book in detail, the adviser added.
But in his interview with the Mail on Sunday, Khan was prepared to go further than he has before. ‘Normally I don’t say anything about Reham, but I will say this: I’ve made some mistakes in my life, but my second marriage has to be the biggest.’
Imran Khan looks increasingly likely to be elected prime minister in Pakistan’s general election this week on Wednesday.
In the run up to the election a number of Pakistan’s cricket stars have come out to support him as the country prepares to go to the polls on Wednesday.
‘It was in your leadership skip @ImrankhanPTI that we became world champions in 1992. It is in your leadership that we can again become a great democratic country,’ tweeted Wasim Akram.
Imran Khan looks increasingly likely to be elected prime minister in Pakistan’s general election this week on Wednesday
‘You have got what it takes Skipper @ImranKhanPTI but it will take everything you have… No one can doubt your Honesty and thats what is require in our country…An honest LEADER,’ tweeted former captain Waqar Younis.
BehindYouSkipper became one of the country’s top trending hashtags as celebrities and former cricketers came to Khan’s support.
Former Australian star Dean Jones also lent his support.
‘I am not a political person… but @ImranKhanPTI I would have loved to play under…. great leader and would do well for Pakistan if given the opportunity,’ he tweeted.
Imran Khan at a peace march in London. A number of cricket stars have come out in support of him prior to the polls opening in Pakistan on Wednesday, July 25
Khan’s chances of becoming prime minister on July 25 are believed to be his best since entering politics two decades ago.
He has promised to build an “Islamic welfare state” if his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party forms the next government.
Recent polls show PTI’s popularity climbing nationally.
On Saturday Khan held a number of last-ditch rallies around Pakistan to hedge up support and re-emphasise his anti-corruption message- a core part of his campaign strategy.
Today, he is expected to appear in Karachi for another public gathering.