Imran Khan tied the knot with Bushra Wattoo in a private ceremony in Lahore Bride is a divorcee he's previously sought out for spiritual healing, friends said Khan, 65, has previously been married to Jemima Goldsmith and Reham Khan It comes as Khan's PTI party said they plan to contest a general election in July Khan has said he believes it is PTI's 'biggest chance' of seizing power and him becoming Pakistan's next prime minister
Pakistani cricket legend turned politician Imran Khan has tied the knot for a third time, marrying a woman described as a 'faith healer.'
Khan, 65, wed Bushra Wattoo – a divorcee his friends say he sought out in the past for spiritual healing - in a private ceremony in Lahore on Sunday, his party announced.
The nuptials ended months of rumours that Khan was considering a third marriage, after being divorced twice – first from socialite Jemima Goldsmith and then from TV presenter Reham Khan.
It comes as Khan's Pakistan Taherik-e-Insaf (PTI) party said they planned to contest a general election to be held in July this year.
Defeated in the 2013 elections, Khan has spoken of his aspirations of becoming Pakistan's next prime minister following this year's parliamentary elections.
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Ceremony: Imran Khan, centre, poses for a photograph with his new wife Bushra Wattoo, second from right, along with relatives during a wedding ceremony in Lahore
Conservative: Khan is seen wearing a dark blazer over a traditional white shalwar kameez, while his bride is clad head-to-feet in a grey robe with a red veil covering her face
In a recent interview, he told AFP he believes this is PTI's 'biggest chance' seizing power.
And his new bride comes from a deeply conservative and politically influential family from the eastern Punjab province.
PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry told AFP the couple had known one another 'for a long time' but declined to provide further details.
Khan has previously referred to Watto, a mother-of-five in her 40s, as his 'spiritual adviser' and someone whose guidance he valued.
Khan's previous weddings, particularly when he wed British socialite Jemima Khan, captivated international tabloids as well as local media in the deeply conservative Muslim nation of 208 million people.
Wife number three: Ms Wattoo, who kept her face covered during the ceremony, is reportedly a mother-of-five in her 40s
Ceremony: A photo published on Twitter by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) sees Khan and his new bride during their marriage ceremony in Lahore on Sunday
Message: Khan took to Twitter on Monday to thank his supporters for their good wishes on his marriage
In contrast, Sunday's nikah was a low-key and conservative affair.
PTI released pictures of a smiling Khan, sitting beside his wife and her relatives.
Khan is seen wearing a dark blazer over a traditional white shalwar kameez, while his bride is clad head-to-feet in a grey robe with a red veil covering her face.
'Many congratulations @ImranKhanPTI,' tweeted Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the deputy chairman of Khan's opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf (PTI) party.
May Allah bless your future life with lots of happiness,' he added.
On Monday, Khan took to Twitter to thank his supporters for their good wishes.
Second wedding: Imran and second wife, TV presenter and BBC weather-girl Reham Khan, pose on their wedding day in January, 2015
Short-lived: Khan's second marriage ended after nine months in 2015, following a whirlwind romance with former BBC journalist Reham Khan
Glamour: Khan married British socialite Jemima Khan, nee Goldsmith, in 1995
'I want to thank everyone for their prayers and good wishes on my marriage,' he wrote.
Khan is beloved by millions across Pakistan after winning the cricket-obsessed country its only World Cup in 1992.
But he has sought to shed the playboy reputation of his younger years and has built a large political following in the northern parts of Pakistan, especially with the conservative Pashtun population.
Over the past year he has also seen his political stock rise following the ouster of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif through judicial proceedings that Khan had championed.
Pakistan's Supreme Court disqualified Mr Sharif from office last year for concealing financial assets.
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