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Does Imran owe an apology to Jemima?

The campaign launched in London by Jemima Khan to back Imran's demand for the lifting of emergency in Pakistan has led many to wonder if he owes her an apology.

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ISLAMABAD: The campaign launched in London by Jemima Khan, the glamorous former wife of Imran Khan, to back his demand for the lifting of emergency in Pakistan after he was arrested has led many to wonder if the cricketer-turned politician owes her an apology.

Jemima, a British socialite who spent 10 years in Pakistan and still retains the "Khan" in her name, has surprised many Pakistanis by going all out to support Imran, whom many here believe had "disowned" her to please his friends in religious parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami.
    
The daughter of a Jewish billionaire and her sons Qasim and Suleman were at the forefront of protests outside the Pakistan High Commission in London last week, demanding Khan's release from jail after his arrest under emergency regulations.
      
Housewife Anjum Shah said, "I think Jemima has proved to be more traditional and loyal than a Pakistani wife. She came out in the open to save the father of her children who were carrying placards saying 'free abba'.

"Perhaps, Imran does owe her an apology," Shah said.

Jemima sprung into action following a call from Imran, who said his life was in danger after he escaped from house arrest shortly after the emergency was imposed on November 3.
    
She released video messages from him to the British media and continued her protests till he was released from prison last week.
    
Zamreen, who is studying journalism in the federal capital, said, "I think Jemima tried her best to adjust to the Pakistani way of life. She embraced Islam, wore Pakistani clothes and even covered her head.
     
"I think it is time he saw sense and apologised to her," she said.

Imran divorced Jemima in 2004. In a statement issued then, he had said, "Jemima tried her best to settle here, (but) my political life made it difficult for her to adapt to life in Pakistan. This (divorce) was a mutual decision and is clearly very sad for both of us"
      
Imran, who heads the Tehreek-e-Insaf party, was released from prison after he went on hunger strike to protest against the emergency. The former cricketer went underground on November 3, but was later picked up from the Punjab University campus in Lahore.
      
He has often been accused of targeting the moderate and liberal elements within Pakistan, whom he has described as 'brown sahibs'.
      
"He never hid his hostile approach towards the children of these elite studying in influential educational institutions. The sarcastic attacks on the brown sahibs made Islamists happy and they hijacked Imran to exploit his popularity," said a report in a local daily.
      
Ironically, the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, whom he always tried to please, facilitated his arrest at the Lahore University campus.
      
But like Jemima, the 'brown sahibs' must have perhaps surprised Imran by being the first to condemn his public thrashing and supporting him in his difficult times.
     
The 33-year-old Jemima, who is running the "Free Pakistan Movement" in London to protest against "the brutality in Pakistan", said, "I'm doing this because Imran and my friends in Pakistan have asked us to make a noise here because they are not able to in Pakistan."

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