Jemima Goldsmith and Maryam Nawaz are fighting over their sons. And Imran Khan started it
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Jemima Goldsmith and Maryam Nawaz are fighting over their sons. And Imran Khan started it

A polo match in London has become a mahayudh on Twitter between PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and Imran Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith.

Revathi Krishnan    
Jemima Goldsmith and Maryam Nawaz | ThePrint

Jemima Goldsmith and Maryam Nawaz | ThePrint

New Delhi: Besides wishes for Eid, Pakistani Twitter Wednesday was divided between Team Jemima and Team Maryam. It began with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s jibe at opposition leader Maryam Nawaz’s son Junaid. But somehow, it quickly devolved into a she-said-she-said mahayudh between Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith and Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and politician Maryam Nawaz.

Taunts like ‘bhabhi’ and ‘anti-Semitic’ flew thick and fast. Their defenders even roped in Phoolan Devi and Mother Teresa.

At a recent election rally, Khan had mocked Junaid for playing the ‘king’s sport’ polo in London and for doting grandfather Nawaz Sharif flying to see the game. Maryam Nawaz jumped to defend her son, but not without dragging Khan’s son into the argument.

“My son is the polo team captain and is bringing honour to Pakistan. He is Nawaz Sharif’s grandson, not Goldsmith’s and he is not being raised in the lap of Jews,” she said.

Then there was a barrage of messages to pacify and extend support to Jemima Goldsmith.

“STAY STRONG @Jemima_Khan!!”

Some even said PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz proved that “money can’t buy you class or manners.”

“Can’t wait for Bhabhi to annihilate this witch!”

Team Maryam clapped back too. Her supporters hailed her as the epitome of respect. Others said Jemima should blame Imran Khan for finding herself in the line of fire.

Pakistani politician Jawad Ahmad called Jemima Goldsmith a “nobody in Pakistan’s politics.”

Imran Khan’s real target clearly wasn’t Junaid, but he was trying to take a dig at the Sharif family’s alleged corruption.

“The common man cannot play polo — a kings’ sport. You need a lot of money to keep a horse and play polo. So tell us where this dear grandson got this money from. It’s the people’s money”, Khan had said at the rally.

After saying all this, Maryam insisted that she did not want to bring children into it, but Khan deserved a “befitting reply”.

Also read: ‘The Imran I knew…’: Ex-wife Jemima hits out at Pakistan PM over comments on rape

Entry of Jemima Goldsmith

Not a part of Imran Khan’s life or Pakistan’s politics for over a decade, Jemima Goldsmith spoke up too.

“I left Pakistan in 2004 after a decade of antisemitic attacks by the media & politicians (& weekly death threats & protests outside my house). But still it continues.”

Despite divorcing Imran Khan over 17 years ago, Goldsmith has been at the receiving end due to her relationship with the cricketer-turned-politician. Including the name Bhabhi, which she is still referred to as. And the occasional “Do you still love IK, Bhabhi” comment.

Also read: Who’s scared of Maryam Nawaz? PM Imran Khan, his party PTI, and their sexist jokes

Then there’s the Opposition

Maryam Nawaz did not take this one sitting either.

“I have absolutely no interest in you, your sons or your personal lives because I have better things to do and say but if your ex drags in families of others out of spite, others will have nastier things to say. You have only your ex to blame,” she tweeted at Goldsmith.

One observer in Pakistan, author and banker Mir Mohammad Alikhan, rather interestingly summarised the entire exchange.

“Watching Maryam N Sharif argue with Jemima_Khan is like watching….PHOOLAN DEVI argue with MOTHER TERESA.”