Salman Ahmad’s name needs no introduction. He is the renowned musician and activist that we know from his early Junoon days and is still on the crest of his career with some of the most amazing singles and albums coming out every now and then.
We also know Salman Ahmad to be very well connected having strong political affiliations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf where the chairman Imran Khan happens to be one of his closest friends.
Imran Khan’s former wife Jemima Goldsmith, who is a renowned campaigner, columnist and now a filmmaker, is also one of Ahmad’s close friends. Although Khan and Jemima were married for nine years only, Jemima has always extended best wishes to Khan, and has lent support in all his endeavours. Right from contesting for prime minister-ship in the 2013 elections to his marriage to journalist Reham Khan, and multiple other times when Khan was subjected to getting allegations levelled against him by the opposition.
Recently, Khan was asked by a prominent media house if he would every want to remarry Jemima, to which he had replied, “You only cross the river once. I saw her pain, they moved court against Jemima accusing her of smuggling antiques when she was sending tiles to her mother, we here are used to this sort of injustice but she was from a society where none can sue you for something you haven’t done.”
Seems like Jemima still holds a very special place in Khan’s heart.
However, there was much a media frenzy, when news circulated on Wednesday morning that Ahmad had extended an invite to Jemima to visit Pakistan – an offer gladly accepted by her and she has now planned to visit next year.
Daily Times spoke to Ahmad about the authenticity of the news, to which he replied, “I’ve been friends with Jemima since the 1990s. She’s a filmmaker and a writer who loves Pakistan. I invited her to come in 2018 as my guest and she said ‘yes’.”
Still uncertain, he was asked if he was sure and if Jemima had not said ‘yes’ out of courtesy. “Of course she will. She loves Pakistan and Pakistanis love Jemima,” he confirmed.
Giving more details about Jemima’s fondness for the Land of the Pure, Ahmad said, “Even in the excellent film script that she’s written, her leading lady falls in love with a Pakistani man.”
Daily Times asked Ahmad, if the story was about her falling in love with Khan. “It’s a romantic comedy, which she wrote. That’s all I can reveal,” he said.
Fingers crossed, let’s hope the day arrives sooner than soon and hopefully we will see Khan and Jemima in one frame once again.
Ahmad is also UN’s Goodwill Ambassador for Polio and represents Pakistan in Thailand.
“In 2018, I am producing a unique Broadway-style show, which will pay tribute to three legends, Nazia and Zoheb Hassan, Junoon and Vital Signs. I’ve already been in talks with Zoheb, JJ’s sons, Momina Mustehsan, Asim Azhar, Irtaash and a few others.”
According to the “Sayonee” hit-maker, the show will be a never-before- seen, audio-visual odyssey. “It will showcase the rich musical heritage of Pakistani superstars.”
Published in Daily Times, December 21st 2017.
