Exclusive: Imran Khan's elevation as Pakistan PM planned by Army since 2015, says ex-wife Reham

In an interview to ABP News, Reham, who was born in Libya to Pakistani parents and started her career as a journalist in the UK, said after her divorce with Khan she was told how the cricketer-turned-politician would be roped in to become the prime minister after ousting former premier Nawaz Sharif and taking the judicial route.

Reham Khan, ex-wife of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Photo: ABP News

NEW DELHI: Reham Khan, ex-wife of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Thursday claimed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman has been installed at the country's top post by the military and that his elevation was in the scheme of the Army since 2015. In an interview to ABP News, Reham, who was born in Libya to Pakistani parents and started her career as a journalist in the UK, said after her divorce with Khan she was told how the cricketer-turned-politician would be roped in to become the prime minister by ousting former premier Nawaz Sharif and taking the judicial route. "When I was with him I thought he should definitely lead Pakistan but realised he won't be allowed to do whatever he thinks of. Later, under the circumstances we got divorced and the situation that prevailed a few months before our separation, I got to know he was like any other career politician as we have in Pakistan. After our divorce, I was informed how Nawaz Sharif would be removed and about the judicial route which will be followed," Reham told ABP News' investigation editor Sheela Raval. On the PTI emerging as the single-largest party in the National Assembly elections, Reham said she was not surprised by the results as everything was preplanned. "Everyone knew about this since 2015 and when I started writing my book, I was threatened. I was told if anybody writes anything about Khan, he would be eliminated, because he was in the Army's plan. Therefore, I was indirectly warned that I should desist writing about him," Reham said. "Imran was roped in by the army and he was made to compromise on a lot of things to become the prime minister. He will follow their line," she added. On revelation about Khan's alleged drug addiction, Reham said people in Khan's "circle" know about it, including those in the media and politics. "But I didn't know anything," she said adding that Khan wanted her to make him "saaf suthra" like she was. Reham said Khan believes in superstition, which is prohibited in Islam. "If a prime minister, who is a role model for the entire country, is superstitious than it should a matter of concern for people," she said. "When he approached me for marriage, he asked me about my mother's name. I later got to know that they do some sort of 'hisaab' through names," she added. Reham said she feels "sorry" for Khan because of what he has become. "I am not the only one to write about him, many others have already said several things about Khan, who once happened to be our hero, our role model," she said. 65-year-old Khan's two marriages ended in divorce, including one with Reham. His first marriage was with Jemima Goldsmith, daughter of a British billionaire, in 1995, which lasted nine years. Khan is now married to Bushra Maneka, a faith healer, who was also his spiritual guide. Watch Full Interview of Reham Khan Below