Re: Imran Khan Divorces Reham
How many politicians in the U.S. (more so than Canada) have admitted to affairs, or to fraud, or even drug abuse and when they claim they’ve had a “come to Jesus” moment, their sins are forgiven. It’s about how the politician and his/her campaign controls their narrative. The IK/RK issue is how they seemingly spun their narrative – the marriage appeared to be politically expedient and now it seems it’s not. They need to take control of the narrative. I totally understand that it was a “mutual parting” and I would suspect that in North American political circles this would probably get some airtime and then people would move on – a smart campaign manager would ensure that the public soon forgot and it wouldn’t be held against either person in the long term, especially since divorce is as common as it is here and there’s no “moral sin” to judge against.
Me not knowing the Pakistani mindset, given the taboo around divorce as it is in Pakistan - I wonder whether “mutual parting” would be an acceptable reason? I don’t know that Pakistan(i) are so willing to be blasé about it, when they have the whole - live and die in one's susraal mindset.
Our British Prime Minister took class A class drugs in his Oxford days, and later. What good will he achieve by admitting these things now? What kind of message will he send out to the youngsters by doing so? So yes, when politicians reach a position of responsibility, it is in public's interest that they don't 'admit' their shenanigans - the truth might be out there in the public, but they don't need to admit anything in fear of glamourising whatever immoral thing they may done.
Imran and Reham don't need to spin any narrative. All they have to do is to just remain civilised and respectful, and don't wash their dirty linen in the public. Pakistan has already seen Imran go through a very public divorce over political reasons - so it is not a major shock for the country that his second marriage had also became a victim of his same political commitments. Both times, the writing of possible divorce was on the wall. I think Pakistan in general now fully accept his life long marriage to politics.
Imran and Jemima enjoy tremendous respect in both Britain and Pakistan for being exemplary ex's. I think it is Pakistani public which is expecting Reham to show the class and dignity of Jemima Khan, and follow her footsteps. Imran on the other hand has shown he's still a gentleman with his earlier tweets, and recent interviews in regards to Reham.
As with Pakistani mindset in regards to divorce, yes there is a lot of insensitivity, ignorance and lack of regard shown to people who go through the traumatic experience of divorce. But divorce has never been a problem for the elite and upper middle class. The whole idea of die in susral mindset largely applies to working class women where their families and themselves have no means to support themselves financially if they return home divorced, with or without kids.
Although Pakistanis do immediately consider divorce as the only option in extreme cases, i.e abuse, violence, cheating etc. But parting ways because of general incompatibility and ideological mismatch is still seen a bit posh.
You would definitely see divorces in Pakistan becoming more of an option if women's economic condition improves, there are more job opportunities, we have quick and speedy justice system, legal battles are less financially draining and child support is strictly followed by fathers. All this will eventually erode the stigma attached with divorce.
