In a dramatic political development, journalist, social activist, and former wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, Reham Khan Tuesday officially announced the formation of her own political party — the Pakistan Republic Party — marking her formal entry into the country's political arena with a promise to "change the faces in parliament" and amplify the voice of the ordinary citizen.
Addressing a packed press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Reham Khan said her party’s mission goes beyond the pursuit of power, focusing instead on public welfare, justice, transparency, and representation for neglected communities.
“This is not just a party, it’s a movement to convert politics into service,” she declared.
“I had told the Karachi Press Club that whenever I would make an announcement, it would be from here. This place supported me in difficult times,” Reham stated emotionally, recalling her long journey from journalism to activism to politics.
She added, “From 2012 to 2025, the Pakistan I’ve witnessed still lacks clean drinking water and basic healthcare. That’s not acceptable anymore.”
Reham said that her political journey was not born out of convenience or family legacy but from firsthand experience and a genuine desire for change.
“I’ve never accepted political positions before. I joined a party once for just one person,” she said, in a veiled reference to her former husband. “But today, I stand on my own terms.”
Taking aim at Pakistan's political elite, she criticised dynastic politics and promised to replace “family after family” with fresh faces rooted in public struggle. “Our parliament must reflect the people. Every class should be represented by someone who actually belongs to that class,” she said.
The Pakistan Republic Party, she asserted, was created without any external blessings or patronage. “We are not here to serve personal empires. No one in our party will contest from four constituencies at one time, and we’re not here to play political games.”
Touching on issues plaguing the country, she lamented that all provinces are deprived, youth are being forced to move abroad, and business decisions are made without input from the business community. She questioned the status quo and took a bold stance by suggesting, “According to me, Karachi should be the capital.”
Reham Khan promised that her party’s manifesto would be unveiled soon, rooted in constitutional values and aimed at ushering in long-term reforms. “We want to bring about change within the framework of the law — a change that is useful for the future, not just slogans,” she said.
With a parting message aimed at both the public and political heavyweights, Reham concluded, “I’ve come to replace all the big political people. It’s my duty to see ordinary people in the assembly.”