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Full Disclosure

by Newsweek Pakistan
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Ms. Khan’s publicist asked Newsweek for £35,000 as payment for an op-ed.

After two weeks of silence, Reham Khan opened up about her life as the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, and their subsequent divorce, in an article that appeared in The Guardian’s Life and Style section on Nov. 17.

In the article, she highlights the abuse she faced at the hands of certain members of the PTI and offers a candid view of the problems she encountered during the 10 months she was married. But the article was not commissioned for The Guardian. In the interest of full disclosure, Newsweek Pakistan would like to clarify it pitched the article to Khan on Nov. 3. This newsmagazine requested Khan address the media backlash she faced following her divorce and she was initially hesitant but eager to share her side of the story.

Newsweek Pakistans standard op-ed rate is Rs. 10 per published word and this newsmagazine was led to believe this was sufficient until the article was reverted to her on Nov. 8, a day after she submitted it, for post-editing approval. By that point, Khan had hired a publicist who took over correspondence with Newsweek Pakistan.

Shazana Rajah, the publicist, asked Newsweek to ‘hold’ the article until remuneration had been agreed upon to which Newsweek reiterated its offer. In response, Rajah said this was insufficient and she was “potentially aiming for the £35K mark” alongside a “guarantee” of coverage in Newsweek’s various international editions. She also asked Newsweek Pakistan to feature Khan’s article as its cover story.

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In response, Newsweek told Rajah the sum was excessive and contacted Khan directly to explain its circumstances. She claimed she “had no idea” that her publicist had asked for such an exorbitant amount but did not clarify if she was willing to rescind the offer. Rajah sent a subsequent email, however, claiming the sum was justified because the “heightened interest on Ms. Reham” [sic] had “led to a dramatic increase in [her] security and accommodation” needs.

This newsmagazine then offered to raise its rate to Rs. 100/word and offered to donate the full amount to a charity of Khan’s choice. Khan appeared to agree, on the condition that her article be featured in Newsweek’s international editions. Newsweek Pakistan was set to proceed until Raja contacted the newsmagazine once again and inquired about remuneration.

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She also explained that Khan had a great deal of attention on her right now, including from BBC World News, Newsweek Middle East, and several other TV channels, among others. At that point, Newsweek politely declined to run the article edited by its staff and wished Khan the best in her future endeavors. A few days later, on Nov. 13, Rajah sent another email to Newsweek asking if the publication would reconsider. After the publication’s experiences with Rajah and Khan, it decided against pursuing this any further.

Less than a week later, Newsweek Pakistan’s edit of Khan’s article was featured on The Guardian.

Newsweek Pakistan, naturally, has no claim of ownership on Khan’s article and is glad she was able to find a place for it—for free—at The Guardian. However, we also feel the edited version of the article, which was worked on at Newsweek Pakistan, should not have been forwarded to other publications. This defies the ethical standards that Khan has been demanding the media aspire to in recent weeks.

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18 comments

blacksemi November 17, 2015 - 7:26 pm

please leave her in such depressing times.

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Raaz November 17, 2015 - 9:30 pm

Hardly depressing more money making times!

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yasir ahmed November 17, 2015 - 9:35 pm

this post from newsweek more look like a black mail letter to Ms. Reham, other than information spread to the readers, please don’t do that.

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Omar November 17, 2015 - 9:51 pm

Shameful act by her. Feels comfortable to sell her divorce. Thank God Imran Khan left her.

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Rukhsana Talpur November 17, 2015 - 9:57 pm

Why I am not surprised!

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Mudathir Shah November 17, 2015 - 10:14 pm

It was evident from the very first day that Ms. Reham Khan was in for some big gain. Those feminists who are defending Reham, are misled. This is not about male vs female. This is about one individual trying to get undue benefit from other. It has no gender dimension to it. All of her sympathizers against Imran Khan should keep quiet on this simple fact that she is now bad mouthing her second ex-husband while Imran Khan has decided not to malign her. Is this a depressing time for her as mentioned by either naive or cunning people, she is a gold digger and in such a situation, she is contemplating to get at least silver if gold could not be gotten.

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Waqas Ahmed November 17, 2015 - 10:45 pm

Feminists are the biggest hypocrites on this planet. At one point, she asserts that women should be treated equally as men and on the other hand plays the women victim card. Look at Imran Khan on the other hand, he’s been taking the beating and all that sickening lies from the media like a man and has refused to talk ill of Reham. Instead, he’s been defending her in his tweets and media statements.

I thought Ms Reham Khan would show some disgrace and stay quiet rather than discussing their marriage problems in public. But it looks evident now that she has decided to cash-in from this misery. After all, Imran is Pakistan’s biggest celebrity and known highly globally.

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Ehsan Ullah Khan November 18, 2015 - 2:24 am

It is better for Rehan & khan that they should be careful and stop blame game other it will badly affect the children’s future .

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saad November 18, 2015 - 3:04 am

Reham is attention seeker and money digger

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Mohsin November 18, 2015 - 6:02 am

Ms Khan is not a type of women who will sit quitely at home,she was not able to sit with IK where else she will sit? I believe she will try to encash more out of it n in future also she will keep trying of makIng cheap money.

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Rukhsana Talpur November 18, 2015 - 7:56 am

A request to Reham Khan to have some dignity and not make an issue of the fact two ppl didn’t get along.This happens all the time and not make it a feminist issue.IK has been butt of jokes and slander too but has maintained silence on this.Two mature people took a decision and it didn’t work out,so what!Heavens will not fall!Reham you can write about hundreds of issues but please leave IK out of this.We as Pakistanis think he has a big responsibility on his shoulders to get this nation out of status qyu and he needs support to achieve this gigantic task.

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ruth November 18, 2015 - 9:03 am

Why are so many of you after Reham? I think it is time to look at Imran Khan that has a history with women all over the world. And the press was very kind to him till now. He has acted just like any small minded Man towards women. The saddest part for me, after living many years in Pakistan is always the women themselves. Their own going need to protec this Men and have no issues to bang on women at all. Imran Khan had his sisters ,that bye the way did not want any thing to do with Reham to pack up her belongings. That alone is an insult and just gives you an indication to how much respect he has for women at large. He did not register their marriage so that he will not have any liabilities towards her after the divorce. He was not gaining in the case of Reham where as he gained a lot form his first wife that built him the palace in Bani Gala. He is a hypocrite of the highest degree. Despite of all, he seems to charm many women in to believing that women are the evil at the end of the day .

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Sohail Osman Ali November 18, 2015 - 5:54 pm

Well done, Newsweek.

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Sana Ali November 18, 2015 - 6:37 pm

If you remember the whole story up till know, recall Shazana Rajah, yeah! she hasn’t spoken anything about the incident. If she had done, the matter would have become ‘crystal clear’.
-Sana

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Zara November 18, 2015 - 7:41 pm

Seems like she is cashing in on her divorce. Very unethical woman.

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Aamir November 18, 2015 - 10:42 pm

I am surprised as she portrayed a very humble and angel like nature. Really disappointed. Money Money Money. selling personal and intimate material for gossip and Masala shows the materialistic personality.

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Omar Sohail Dar November 18, 2015 - 11:05 pm

And what was the purpose of this article Newsweek? You lost a story and now you’re printing this as a revenge?

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Zainab Makki November 19, 2015 - 1:13 pm

There are laws that govern intellectual property rights. You can sue the publicist and I think making this unprofessional ethics public was a great move. Keep it up news week.

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