In late 2016, at a family friend’s daughter’s wedding ceremony in London, Imran Khan took to the stage to take a jab at himself on the topic of his marriage, hoping that he “maybe third time lucky”.
The crowd greeted his joke with hoots and cheers amidst a few farsighted hopes that he just might be one step away from finding his one true love.
Fast-forward two years and the official Twitter account of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) broke the news on Sunday, of PTI Chief Imran Khan’s third marriage to Bushra Maneka, his very own spiritual guide.
Was this a pun within a pun intended? We’ll let you decide by yourself.
Also, previously in January this year, senior correspondent with The News, Umar Cheema broke the story that the Nikah was solemnised on January 1, even though PTI denied the report at the time. He continued on to say that the names he mentioned in his story also featured in the pictures issued by the PTI on Sunday, in which close relatives of Bushra Bibi can be seen, along with Imran’s political secretary Aun Chaudhry.
In the meanwhile, Twitter is abuzz with Pakistan’s hot and glamorous all smiles and memes for Imran’s hat-trick of marriages, with a few string of tweets taking a hit at The News correspondent Umar Cheema – a few in favour of him and a few making a plain old simple joke out of the entire fiasco.
Though it started with a hat, it was followed by a dupatta, and now it might just be a total wrap!
#MubarakImranKhan… a simple small Nikkah ceremony at Bushra Bibi’s house yesterday. May Allah bless this marriage… Walima soon insha Allah 🙂
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) February 19, 2018
Congratulations on your wedding @ImranKhanPTI , Best wishes for you and Bhabbi, May Allah bless you both and give you happines.
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) February 19, 2018
Hilarious 😂 pic.twitter.com/o1RTue7uie
— Dr. Abeeha (@Ahtweeted) February 19, 2018
پیر چیمہ صاب @UmarCheema1 pic.twitter.com/He10Yg1VD4
— Ahmad Waqass Goraya (@AWGoraya) February 19, 2018
PTI apologists please do explain to us how Umar Cheema could predict the names of Nikah khawans witnesses and attendees a whole month and a half ago. And now where do the emotional denials by Manekas stand. This is a shameless power play by disgusting people.
— Yasser Latif Hamdani (@theRealYLH) February 18, 2018
To all sincere PTI followers, u were made to abuse/slander Geo/Jang management/journalists by Imran Khan/other party leaders aftr @UmarCheema1 revealed that IK has married secretly 4 the third time. Turns out Cheema was correct and ur leadership lied to u/misled u once again pic.twitter.com/bfYN1DkxXm
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaGeoNews) February 18, 2018
PTI apologists please do explain to us how Umar Cheema could predict the names of Nikah khawans witnesses and attendees a whole month and a half ago. And now where do the emotional denials by Manekas stand. This is a shameless power play by disgusting people.
— Yasser Latif Hamdani (@theRealYLH) February 18, 2018
Lahore’s temperature on 18th Feb 2018 evening was 28 C. All the participants of Nikah were wearing sweaters and warm cloths-Mufti Saeed is wearing a fur Jacket. Credit where due – @UmarCheema1 was dot right —it happened on Ist January 2018 pic.twitter.com/i48tkchwAh
— Pakistan Media Watch (@PakPressWatch) February 18, 2018
🎷🎷@UmarCheema1 right now pic.twitter.com/HIMbod37rX
— NeelKhan (@Neelkhan0209) February 18, 2018
Imran Khan’s marriage is his personal matter. Who he married, When did he marry, Why did he marry …. Please mind your own business folks !
— Mansoor Ali Khan (@_Mansoor_Ali) February 19, 2018
All this business aside, we’re still all ears to hear from Jemima, Khan’s first wife and ‘first lady’ who has always lent her public and overwhelming support to her ex-husband, while the two have always chosen to remain close friends through thick and thin.