Khawar Maneka, the former husband of Bushra Bibi, the current wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has disclosed private details of the circumstances that led to his divorce.
During an interview with Geo News’ ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saath,’ Khawar Maneka claimed that Imran Khan used to visit his house without his consent, adding that he was not happy with the frequent meetings between Khan and his ex-wife.
He narrated an incident where he asked his servant to escort Imran Khan out of his house when the former Prime Minister visited his home.
پہلی جنوری 2018 سےلیکر آج تک متعدد تنازعات اور اسکینڈلز میں آپکا نام آتا رہا۔ جنوری 2018 میں آپ شادی کی خبر کی تردید کرتے رہے اور صحافیوں کو جھوٹا کہتے رہے۔ کیا وہ ساری خبریں سچ تھیں؟ جانیئے خاور مانیکا کا مؤقف 1/4 pic.twitter.com/uzjPsvApTh
— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) November 20, 2023
He also revealed that Bushra and Imran used to talk over the phone for hours. Farah Gogi, Bibi’s close friend and the central character in an alleged corruption probe, provided them with “private cell phones” on Imran’s behest.
Maneka further revealed that during PTI’s sit-ins in Islamabad, Bushra’s sister, Maryam Watto, arranged a meeting between his wife and Imran.
He stated that his marriage with Bushra lasted for 28 years, and they had a happy life until Imran Khan, driven by spiritual pursuits, allegedly ruined their household.
Maneka claimed that his mother warned him not to let Imran Khan into their house, as she considered him to be a bad person.
I and my mother had objections on Bushra meeting Imran Khan but we were overruled: Khawar Maneka pic.twitter.com/ldUGhhFQwR
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) November 20, 2023
However, secret phone conversations between Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi began, and they continued to communicate extensively.
Maneka disclosed that he had his own house in Bani Gala, but Bushra Bibi used to visit Imran Khan’s house without informing him.
According to him, six months before their divorce, Bushra Bibi left him and went to live at her own home.
He visited her in Pakpattan and asked her to come with him but she responded in the negative.
He claimed that one day, Farah sent him a message on the phone, asking him to divorce Bushra Bibi. Maneka said that he went to his wife, asking her if she wanted to end the marriage. When she remained silent, he sent divorce papers on November 14, 2017.
Bushra married Imran within 1.5 months of divorce and a controversy arose regarding her Iddat period.
Later, Farah Gogi and Zulfi Bukhari called him and requested to change the date of the divorce.
He also claimed that Gogi and Bukhari told him to stay silent citing Imran Khan’s upcoming premiership. He perceived this as a moderate threat but later realised that they might cause harm to his children.
آپ تو خود عمران خان اور بشریٰ بی بی کی شادی کے بعد اُنکے حق میں بیان دیتے رہے۔ اُسوقت دباؤ میں بولتے تھے یا آج کسی کے دباؤ میں اُن پر الزام لگا رہے ہیں۔ 2/4 pic.twitter.com/ULmreOJDmZ
— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) November 20, 2023
Maneka emphasised that he had no knowledge of Bushra Bibi’s marriage to Imran Khan and was unaware of the development until Geo News and Dunya News broke the story, casting doubt on the authenticity of their marriage.
He further claimed that he never used any influence, alleging that Farah Gogi and her husband Ahsan Jameel Gujjar became self-procaimed parents of his children and used all their powers to favour them.
Interestingly, whenever Maneka was questioned with counter facts by Shahzeb, he would fumble, while appearing distressed.
Gondal Case
Shahzeb Khanzada then moved on to allegations of misuse of the first lady’s position by Maneka, citing the Gondal case.
In 2018, Pakpattan’s former district police officer (DPO) Rizwan Umar Gondal’s men stopped Maneka’s car as he was travelling towards Pir Ghani on the night of August 23.
Controversy sparked when Punjab’s former Chief Minister Usman Buzdar allegedly transferred Gondal on the complaint of Khawar Maneka.
Police officials claimed that Maneka refused to stop at the policemen’s request and misbehaved with them.
Subsequently, Maneka demanded that the DPO of the area should visit his dera to personally apologise to him.
When Gondal’s transfer orders started making the rounds, it was widely speculated in news and social media that the police officer was transferred because of the August 23 episode.
DPO Gondal revealed details of his meeting with the Punjab CM on August 24. He said Ahsan Jameel was sitting along with the CM when he was summoned to Lahore. Gondal said he then thought Jameel to be a senior official.
Gondal said he told the Punjab CM that after police officials’ altercation with the Manekas at Pakpattan, Manika’s son Ibrahim was invited to the DPO house to redress his grievances but he refused to come.
However, Gondal claimed, it was Jameel who addressed him in ‘an overbearing manner’ but he did not go to Maneka’s residence to offer apologies despite repeated instructions.
“Don’t take this issue lightly. This time we may exercise restraint but the next time things shall go out of control and you all will suffer,” Gondal quoted Jameel as saying.
When asked about this case by Shahzeb, Maneka categorically refused any use of influence or any sort of connection with Jameel.
When asked about allegations of corruption, making money, increased assets beyond means, and a significant shift in lifestyle, Maneka claimed that everything is out in the open and he is willing to cooperate with any sort of investigation. He also credited his parents for his lifestyle.
‘Imran Khan denies’
Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat stated that Imran Khan has refuted claims made by Khawar Maneka about Khan’s marriage to Bushra Bibi.
Marwat asserted that there is no legal validity of a person who gives contradictory statements and Maneka’s claims are baseless. “Khawar Maneka was also an abducted person. He was arrested under corruption charges but is being used in the iddat case for mala fide statements,” he said.
He emphasised that Maneka’s and Khan’s opponents’ acts are inhumane, generating controversies around Khan’s kids, his marriages, his wives, and his family, and Khan’s opponents use any opportunity to malign him.
“We could’ve said a lot of things around Junaid Safdar’s issue for political point-scoring but we believe that doing this when someone’s home is being broken is disgusting,” he said.
He also said that anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada, who conducted Khawar Maneka’s interview, should’ve thought about his reputation before doing such an interview.
Nawaz Sharif Reacts
Former Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Nawaz Sharif, has reacted to Khawar Maneka’s recent interview where he detailed the circumstances that led to his divorce.
خاور مانیکا کے انٹرویو پر سابق وزیراعظم محمد نواز شریف کا ردعمل ۔ pic.twitter.com/Kg9feIX7jE
— Hassan Ayub Khan (@HassanAyub82) November 21, 2023
Maneka’s recent interview where he detailed the circumstances that led to his divorce.
Nawaz Sharif briefly addressed media at Islamabad High Court, where he was asked about Khawar Maneka’s revelations. When questioned if he had watched the interview, Sharif responded in the affirmative.
The reporter then inquired about Rana Sanaullah’s remarks ‘Dur Fittay Mu’ following the interview, asking if they were accurate. In response, the former Prime Minister stated that after the statements (by Maneka), Riasat e Madina shouldn’t have been mentioned (by Imran).
Upon further questioning about whether the real face has now been revealed and Imran’s secrets have been disclosed, Nawaz Sharif replied that he had already spoken on the matter, and subsequent to those statements, the emphasis should have been on not mentioning Riasat e Madina.
