Jemima Khan annoys Pakistanis
Though Jemima Khan, the glamorous former wife of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, never ceases to be a subject of drawing room conversations, Pakistanis are getting tired of her miss-know-it-all attitude.
Her interview with President Pervez Musharraf, a significant part of which was later denied by the President's spokesperson, and her simplistic deconstruction of "all things Pakistan" is increasingly making her a hate-subject in the country.
"Ms Khan's diatribe against Ms Bhutto is a reflection of her contempt for the Pakistanis whom she met and whom she variously labelled the 'fain-fain crowd' and 'Mummy-Daddy types' in articles she wrote for local and British newspapers when she was still Imran Khan's devoted, dupatta-clad wife," a recent editorial in the Daily Times said.
"So, standing on her high moral pedestal, what does Jemima Khan think of Eurotrash like Hugh Grant (of LA black hooker fame), and other friends and family whose serial infidelities and drinks/drug abuse are legion?
"What was Jemima Khan doing in Pakistan with that demure dupatta on her head, writing sanctimonious articles in the press about her great conversion to Islam? It didn't take the same woman long to throw off her hijab and cavort in skimpy bikinis on French beaches with her man of the moment," the edit said.
Jemima, who jokingly calls herself a "serial protester", is currently in Pakistan with her two sons to observe the election process. She is a bitter critic of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto and her widower Asif Ali Zardari, whom she often refers to as "Mr 10 per cent".
Less time to read?
Try Quickreads
-
Top Taliban cleric killed in blast in Kabul: Officials
A prominent Taliban cleric, Sheikh Rahimullah Haqqani, was killed in an attack in a seminary in Kabul when the attacker detonated explosives hidden in a plastic artificial leg on Thursday, according to officials and Taliban sources. It was not immediately clear who was behind the blast. Four Taliban sources told Reuters the attacker was someone who had previously lost his leg and had hidden the explosives in a plastic artificial leg.
-
China says it needs more time to assess US, India proposal to blacklist JeM chief’s brother at UNSC
China on Thursday said it needs more time to “assess” the India-US proposal to list Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leader Abdul Rauf Azhar as a global terrorist at the UN Security Council, hours after blocking the joint effort. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council has clear provisions about designating terrorist organisations and officials. China had similarly sought time to assess the case.
-
China, Nepal agree on cross-Himalayan railway
China has agreed to finance a feasibility study for a cross-border railway with Nepal under the trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional connectivity network, part of the Belt and Road Initiative and pledged $118 million for China-assisted projects in the country, the foreign ministries of the two countries have said. Chinese state councillor and foreign minister, Wang Yi said China will work with Nepal on power projects and also in building cross Himalayan connectivity projects.
-
Sri Lanka's ex-leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa leaves Singapore: Report
Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left Singapore Thursday, the city-state's immigration office said, after his social visit pass expired. "The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority confirms that Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa left Singapore on 11 August 2022," the office said in reply to an AFP query. Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on July 13 and then to Singapore, where he announced his resignation after months of protests over Sri Lanka's economic meltdown.
-
Global youth unemployment set to slip to 73 million in 2022: UN
The total global number of unemployed youths should fall to 73 million in 2022, down by two million from the year before, the United Nations said Thursday. However, the figure is still six million higher than the pre-pandemic level of 2019, with the recovery in youth unemployment lagging behind the bounceback in other age groups, the UN's International Labour Organization said.
