Daily Times

Reham Khan, former wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, complained on Friday of being ‘defamed’ by the electronic media over her tell-all biography, which reportedly includes details of her interactions with various celebrities and her marriage with Khan.

Some of the details apparently crossed a line for businessman Zulfikar Bukhari, Reham’s first husband Ijaz Rehman, PTI International Media Coordinator Anila Khawaja, and cricketer Wasim Akram, drawing prompt court notices from what seemed to be an embroilment of scandalous and physically damaging methods of revenge and retribution charged at some of the major power players.

A few days ago, actor-anchor and PTI loyalist, Hamza Ali Abbasi maintained his rhetoric in line of his admission that there had, indeed, been versions of the book circulating online. “Here is the summary: IK is the most evil man to walk the face of this planet. Reham is the most pious righteous (Tahajjud guzaar) woman ever…,” he tweeted. Reham neither confirmed nor denied the revelations, but replied, “Hamza Abbasi claims he has read manuscript when it’s not been published? Only possible through fraud or theft.”

As we delve deeper down the issue, Reham’s arch political rivals have come to the unequivocal conclusion that the book has been written to malign the personality of Imran Khan just before the upcoming elections of 2018. Of course, they might have a hunch that the book will work to confuse the followers of Imran Khan and members of PTI. But facts reveal vice versa: the following of IK is mounting up.

Society, observantly, finds it immoral to reveal the relationship or personal grievances between a husband and wife. What you get out of this, however, in turn, is an audience that exercises its passivity and inaction owing to its lofty traditions in the celebration of a kind of a reality TV show, which takes its roots in hasty trends on social media, and becomes part and parcel of the intellectual and emotional aptitude of the newer generation that forms the basis of the next society to come.

After undertaking a thorough critique from the masses, the question arises, will Reham’s book stand its chance as the pinnacle of truth for Imran’s followers? Taking it as an attack on their moral character, the segment of society that continues to support Imran will not lose their cause at the mercy of the hands of an enraged and betrayed wife lost in shrewd, political embowel. Although, crucial to its timing, thousands of its copies may breed waves of amusement into the general opinion, but if popularity is measured by the response of the people following a message that spearheads monumental change, no political opinion is bound to be shaped.

The record of previous books of such type reveal the unpopularity of such an idea. ‘My Feudal Lord’ written by Tehmeena Durrani, wife to Ghulam Mustafa Khar, the then CM of Punjab, evoked the sentiment of hundreds of women within Pakistan who resonated with her tell-tale image of serving as an ‘obedient wife’ to a ‘demonic husband’, but did little to damage the personality of Khar. Notions that fail to establish their place in society are hardly found achieving their objectives, but are, indeed, widely read, gossiped about, and then forgotten.

Although, crucial to its timing, thousands of its copies may breed waves of amusement into the general opinion, but if popularity is measured by the response of the people following a message that spearheads monumental change, no political opinion is bound to be shaped

Khan’s resilience in the wake of the allegations concocted in a mystery that surrounds Reham’s book as well as, ever, since their divorce shows a complete moral win that tilts in favour of the party chairman. Abbasi’s persistent, vocal succession as PTI spokesperson is a separate issue that can be explicated through psychologies of impulsive aggression and idiocrasy. But IK’s attitude puts it all in place.

Time is witness to the many times Khan has been highlighted by his political opponents. He has been defamed as a “Yahoodi Agent” along with the awakening of a recent incident that involved Ayesha Gulalai leveling harassment allegations against him, but all in vain. He was also scandalised and made the focus of public scrutiny through the Sita White case and when he married his present wife Bushra Bibi. All is, now, done and dusted; IK’s personality remains untarnished.

Margaret Thatcher, a controversial figurehead of the conservative ideology during her time in the British office said, “If they attack you personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.” Reham’s book promises to reveal personal details about Khan, who spent only nine months of his life with her. Khan’s 22 years’ worth of struggle totals a good span of 65 whole years. Is one book by one controversial author enough to overrule an entire career?

The writer is a student of political science, and passionately pursues challenges brought by shifts in ideas and current affairs. She tweets at @EeshahOmer