Imran Khan Divorce? Pakistani Opposition Leader, Wife Reham To Separate After 10 Months

Ten months into marriage, Imran Khan, head of Pakistan's opposition party, and his wife Reham have filed for divorce, reported BBC Friday. The leader of the Tehreek-e-Insaf party and his wife both confirmed the news online.

The divorce was first announced by the Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which was founded by Khan in 1996, according to the Guardian. Khan appealed for privacy and offered well-wishes to Reham in a series of tweets. "This is a painful time for me [and] Reham [and] our families. I would request everyone to respect our privacy," he wrote.

The 62-year-old sportsman-turned-politician wed the 42-year-old broadcast journalist in January. Tehreek-e-Insaf spokesman Naeem Ul Haque asked the media to "refrain from any speculation" and added that "there will be no further communication in this respect," according to the BBC. Reham Khan released a short statement on Twitter confirming the news, writing "We have decided to part ways and file for divorce."

Imran Khan was previously married to British journalist Jemima Goldsmith. The marriage between Khan and Goldsmith lasted nine years, the couple divorcing in 2004. The couple had two children together during their marriage.

Khan captained the Pakistani cricket team when it won the Cricket World Cup in 1992. He turned to a career in politics and led protests last year that called for political reform and for Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down. Since Imran married Reham, she has endured social media criticism from conservative Muslim Pakistanis after images surfaced showing her in Western dress, according to NDTV in India.

The couple's wedding surprised the general public in Pakistan, which had become interested in the private life of Imran Khan. He was criticized for remarrying just weeks after the Taliban killed more than 130 schoolboys in an attack that shocked the country, according the Guardian.

There were a number of other sources of tension, as well. There was unease within the Tehreek-e-Insaf party concerning Reham's involvement in political campaigns, causing Imran to say his wife had no role within the party. He said Reham, a former BBC journalist, would not be allowed to attend party functions, “nor will [she] be given any official protocol,” according to the Guardian.