Setting the record straight on rumours regarding Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s alleged third marriage, a statement issued by the party on Sunday claimed that Khan had proposed marriage to Bushra Maneka, believed to be a respected Pir (faith healer) in Pakpattan.

According to a statement issued by the spokesperson for the PTI chief, Khan sent a marriage proposal and Maneka sought time to consult her family, especially her children, before making any decision.

Bushra Maneka, who is in her 40s, is from the Wattoo clan, of which the Manekas are a sub-clan. She was married to Khawar Farid Maneka, a senior customs official in Islamabad.

“If and when the proposal is accepted by Ms Maneka for the marriage, Mr Khan will announce it publicly in a proper manner. Till then, we request the media to give the two families, especially the children, their privacy,” the spokesperson said.

Official Statement issued by Chairman Secretariat. pic.twitter.com/29p2VJu20u

— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 7, 2018

On Sunday morning, PTI’s media department released a statement, attributing to the PTI chairman, criticising the newspaper report.

The statement said that this extremely private and sensitive matter was made the subject of an erroneous story leading to all manner of public conjecture.

“This has put an unacceptable burden, especially on the children of Maneka and Khan, who have had to learn of such a private and intimate issue from the media,” the statement said.

Stressing the need for restraint, Khan urged the media to “give the two families, especially the children, their privacy”.

Maneka’s son appeared on Geo News on Saturday night to deny the rumours of her marriage to Khan.

Bushra Maneka reportedly is mother of three sons and two daughters. This is also quite interesting and perhaps for the first time that a prominent politician has his spiritual guide a woman, whom he has now proposed to wed. Surprisingly too, neither Imran’s former spouse Reham nor party rebel MNA Ayesha Gulalai had reacted to this development till the filing of this report

Last year, a local newspaper had reported that for quite some time, Khan had been quietly visiting a remote town in Sahiwal where he stays “for a few hours at the residence of his hosts, who belong to influential Maneka clan, with whom he is said to have a spiritual bond”.

The report suggested that Khan met there with Bushra Maneka, known as Pinky in the area, for spiritual advice.

This is not the first time Khan has been linked to someone from the Maneka family. In July 2016, reports suggested that the PTI chief had married a woman belonging to the Maneka family in London, with sources claiming his wife’s name is Maryam.