Sunday Times 2
Has Imran Khan secretly married a BBC weather girl?
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has remarried in secret to a former BBC weather girl, according to reports in Pakistan.
Online trolls have attacked Ms Khan for her appearance, dancing with unknown men, and attending parties
Former BBC weather girl Reham Khan
The 62-year-old is believed to have tied the knot at the weekend with Pakistani news anchor Reham Khan, 41, who is a divorced mother-of-three.
She lived in Britain for part of her previous marriage, when she was a weather girl and presenter on the BBC regional news programme ‘South Today’.
Rumours have been circulating for several months that the pair are an item, and there have been reports in recent days that they are now married.
Imran Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith revealed in October that she was ditching the surname ‘Khan’ and reverting to her family name because her ex-husband was about to remarry.
She said at the time: ‘My ex-husband, Imran, recently announced that he intended to get remarried soon, which made me think it’s probably time to change my name back to Goldsmith.’
The couple are yet to make an official announcement – which will apparently be forthcoming in the new year – but sources close to them have confirmed they are married.
Another well-known news anchor in Pakistan, Farhat Javed Rabani, Tweeted on December 27: ‘Ahmmm… an anchor has married a politician today… ?#WeddingBells’
Imran Khan, pictured left, has been single since he divorced Jemima Goldsmith, pictured right, 10 years ago
A family friend said that relatives including his sisters were against the marriage and were surprised he went ahead.
It is believed family members and those in his political party tried talking him out of the marriage.
Leading political commentator Dr Shahid Masood, who is a close friend of Imran Khan, said on television that Imran neither confirmed nor denied the news.
He added that members of Imran’s political party, Tehreek-e-Insaf, confirmed that Reham wants to get actively get involved with his politics and sees herself a future first lady.
Dr Masood has urged Imran to issue an official statement.
It was reported that cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan
Reaction to the rumoured marriage has been very negative in Pakistan and there has been a backlash on social media.
Photos of Reham in revealing clothes and a video of her doing a tango while working for the BBC are prompting insulting comments in the conservative Islamic country.
Rival political parties are jumping on the negative reaction and believe it will harm his credibility to marry a divorcee with an apparently chequered past.
Reham, who was born in Libya to Pakistani parents, has three children from her previous marriage to a doctor.
© Daily Mail, London