Khan's ex-wife slams 'antisemitic abuse' as Pakistan pro-govt protest planned outside her London home

Jemima Goldsmith has expressed dismay at plans for a protest against her former husband, ousted Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, to be staged outside her London home.

Taking to social media on Friday, Goldsmith, who has some Jewish ancestry, said the targeting reminded her of harassment she had faced in the early years of her marriage to the former cricketer.

"Protests outside my house, targeting my children, antisemitic abuse on social media…. It’s almost like I’m back in 90s Lahore. #PuranaPakistan," Goldsmith posted on Twitter on Friday in response to a poster calling for a protest outside her southwest London home.

The protest, organised by supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League-N party, is thought to be in retaliation for rallies held in London by Khan's supporters outside of the residence of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif - the older brother of Shehbaz Sharif, who was recently sworn in to succeed Khan as premier.

Protests outside my house, targeting my children, antisemitic abuse on social media…. It’s almost like I’m back in 90s Lahore. #PuranaPakistan pic.twitter.com/0R2YOPcQrJ

— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) April 15, 2022

Goldsmith was married to Khan from 1995 to 2004 and they have two children together. Since returning to London, she has spoken on several occasions of her experiences of anti-Semitism in Pakistan.

Last year, in response to a remark by Nawaz Sharif's daughter that Khan and Goldsmith's children were "being raised in the lap of the Jews", Goldsmith tweeted:

"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."

She has occasionally commented on Pakistani politics since returning to London, but has not publicly commented on her ex-husband's recent removal from office by no-confidence vote.

Goldsmith's brothers Zac and Ben, however, both spoke out in support of Khan.

The remarks made by Lord Zac Goldsmith, who is a foreign office minister, prompted the UK government to issue a statement distancing itself from his remarks on Pakistani politics.