Former wives of the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan Niyazi are up in arms on his remarks linking a women’s dress code to rape and sexual violence in his country.
Defending Hijab culture, the flamboyant cricketer turned politician said that the concept of 'pardah' in Islam is intended to "keep temptation in check".
During a television interview last week, Oxford-educated Khan blamed "fahashi" (vulgarity) for the rise in rape cases in the country, advising women to cover up to prevent the "temptation".
He also singled out India's Bollywood, saying Delhi had become 'a rape capital of the world' due to indecency and 'obscenity' shown in films. But Imran Khan defended the Turkish drama Ertugrul which is now being shown in Pakistan.
Khan said that rape is 'spreading like a cancer' within Pakistani society and that preserving the Islamic concept of modesty should be used as a defence.
The Pakistan PM also recalled his days in the UK in the '70s to play cricket. The "sex, drugs and rock n roll" culture was taking off in the UK at that time, he said.
Imran Khan’s statement set the social media ablaze. Leading the criticism of her ex-husband on the Twitter, Jemima Goldsmith quoted the Koran: ““Say to the believing men that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts." Quran 24:31
“The onus is on men,” Jemima fumed, adding that, “'m hoping this is a misquote/ mistranslation. The Imran I knew used to say, "Put a veil on the man's eyes not on the woman."
“Say to the believing men that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts." Quran 24:31
The onus is on men. https://t.co/StkKE3HIPM
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) April 7, 2021
Khan's second wife Reham Khan too joined in and tweeted: “Today a young girl commented that he didn't say women should do Purdah!!” Reham Khan, an ex BBC presenter, quote-tweeted an Associated Press report on the issue, and wrote, "The less he speaks the better it will be for all."
‘The less he speaks…’: Imran Khan’s ex-wives slam Pak PM for linking rape to how women dress | Hindustan Times https://t.co/RjnEhi1rOw
— Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) April 8, 2021
Twice-divorced Khan, one of the best cricketers of all time, in his young age, while pursuing his education abroad, developed a reputation as an aristocratic philanderer.
Imran Khan and Reham Khan (Pic: Courtesy dawn.com)
As a star cricketer, he partied in VIP nightclubs during his bachelor life in London.
He is said to have dated several women around the world, including Bollywood stars and at least one from Hollywood. Of his carefree days, he once said “The playboy image is exaggerated, but I’m not a saint either.” He famously dated fashion guru Susannah Constantine before marrying glamorous socialite Ms Goldsmith in 1995.
The couple had two sons before their divorce nine years later, which was in part attributed to the difficulties Jemima faced in Pakistan where she was hounded for her family's Jewish ancestry.
Then khan married the BBC anchor Reham Khan following a much talked romance but the marriage lasted for only 10 months.
Reham has written about Imran’s “encounters” with many women and his drug addiction.
Finally, Imran wedded his spiritual guide, then known as Bushra Wattoo, in a traditional Islamic ceremony during which the bride was shrouded head-to-toe in veils.
Khan's comments drew ire from Pakistan rights campaigners who accused the Prime Minister of "baffling ignorance". "Not only does this betray a baffling ignorance of where, why and how rape occurs, but it also lays the blame on rape survivors, who, as the government must know, can range from young children to victims of honour crimes," the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent rights watchdog, said in a statement.
