New Delhi: A cryptic video message by former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, hinting at the influence of foreign forces in the removal of the PTI chief as the PM, appears to have done more damage to the leader’s image than good. The message came days before the 24 November rally planned by PTI supporters in Islamabad seeking his release.
In a live video posted on PTI’s official YouTube channel, Bibi first clarified that there was no truth to reports that the protest’s date was changed.
She then went on to claim that in 2018 after Khan arrived barefoot to visit Medina as part of a three-day Saudi Arabia trip, then army chief Qamar Jawed Bajwa got calls regarding the former PM.
“When he returned from the trip, immediately Bajwa started getting calls asking, ‘who have you brought into power’. Here we are trying to abolish the rule of Sharia, but you have brought a protector of Sharia. We don’t want this,” said Bibi.
Bibi was jailed along with Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case. She was granted bail on 23 October and was released a day after.
The recorded message seems to have annoyed a part of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) support base, who are gearing up for the 24 November protest.
“With all due respect, Bushra Bibi carries no clout or trust within the PTI audience and her messaging is entirely off point undermining Imran Khan and his movement,” said Hussain Nadim, a Washington DC-based international relations professor, on X.
Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz Sharif, in a televised address in Islamabad, attempted some damage control with respect to foreign relations with Saudi Arabia.
“Just like a brother always helps his own brother, Saudi Arabia has always helped Pakistan,” said Sharif.
“Any hand that becomes an obstacle in the friendship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the nation will break those hands.”
Also read: Imran Khan hints army tried to poison Bushra with Harpic. Pakistanis ask red or blue bottle?
‘Corrupt’ Bibi?
Some thought Bibi went a bit over the top to galvanise supporters in the run-up to the protest.
“Bushra Bibi didn’t come off as too bright in her maiden political address. Created a new controversy as she went overboard giving Islamic touch to motive supporters ahead of the protest,” said Faraz, a Lahore-based user on X.
Pakistani journalist Nusrat Javeed even claimed on X that Saudi Arabian diplomats thought it was an “AI-generated video to malign the PTI and its leaders” until they verified it.
PTI activist Salman Ahmad called Bibi “corrupt and greedy”, adding that it was “disgusting to say that he was removed because he walked barefoot in Mecca,” in a post on X.
There were innumerable messages of support posted under PTI’s YouTube and X posts of Bibi’s video, but most were related to the upcoming protest.
Pakistani news channel Geo News reported that former general Bajwa had denied the allegations.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)
Bushra Bibi’s IQ is a perfect match for Im The Dim.
What’s hilarious is that Imran – the flamboyant and playboy cricketer who has had innumerable affairs with actresses/models and and is also alleged to have fathered children out of wedlock – has turned into a “protector of the Sharia”.
Having broken every single rule of the Sharia code of honourable conduct for a man, he is now a champion of the Sharia.
Good for him and good for his wife.