The recent defeat of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate in NA-19 (Haripur) by-election, where Reham Khan, the wife party chairman Imran Khan, spearheaded the election campaign, proved to be a fatal blow to her political career. After the party was defeated with a huge margin of about 40,000 votes by the candidate of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the PTI supporters stormed the social media, putting all the onus of the defeat on Reham.
This prompted the PTI chairman to announce on the social media that Reham Khan already has too much on her plate, especially working with street children. "In future, she will not attend any PTI function/event," Khan tweeted, giving an end to the rumours that his wife was aspiring for making inroads in politics. Reham was also criticised for enjoying official protocol by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government, where the party of her husband rules. Imran said: "PTI is opposed to all forms of nepotism. Reham will hold no party position, no position in KP nor will be given any official protocol".
He further made it clear that his wife would not contest elections on a PTI ticket. However, he said that Reham was politicised. He recalled his anti-government sit-in and said one of the great achievements of the party sit-in last year was to politically galvanize the women and youth. PTI chairman substantiated his claim by saying that only when people are politicised, they can fight effectively for their rights and against injustice.
At the same time, Imran also expressed displeasure over the cricism on his wife on the social media, saying that he was shocked and disgusted by attacks on Reham after his party's defeat in NA 19 by-elections. "She [Reham] only went [haripur] for taking part in the election campaign on the insistence of [PTI] candidate. For the record, Reham has only attended PTI functions at the constant insistence of PTI members, especially the women," he maintained.