Tag: Bushra Bibi

  • VIDEO: ‘Salman Akram Raja resigned after Bushra Bibi abused him’

    VIDEO: ‘Salman Akram Raja resigned after Bushra Bibi abused him’

    Journalist Kashif Abbasi has claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Salman Akram Raja resigned after wife of party founder Imran Khan and former first lady, Bushra Bibi, hurled abuses at him among other party leaders.

     

    Raja had on Thursday afternoon tendered his resignation to party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan citing “personal reasons”. The party chief had confirmed the receipt of resignation; however, he had said that the same had not yet been accepted.

     

    During his show later in the day, Abbasi claimed that the resignation came after the former first lady “humiliated and dishonoured” PTI leadership, “calling them bayghairat [shameless] and vultures seven times” in an earlier meeting. She once again used those words for party bigwigs in a meeting following the abrupt end to PTI’s Islamabad protests, the journalist added.

     

     

    Claiming this was the reason behind Raja’s resignation as well as discontent among senior leaders of the party, Abbasi also quoted Raja as saying that he was “not accountable to any family member of Imran Khan”.

     

    Meanwhile, journalist Shahzeb Khanzada claimed that Bushra’s behaviour was also the reason behind Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza’s resignation from the PTI core and political committees.

     

    Reports also quoted sources within the PTI as saying that Bushra’s insistence on marching towards D-Chowk was what led to party’s humiliation amid strong resistance from law enforcement. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur did not want to advance past Kulsoom Hospital but the former first lady kept insisting, they said.

     

    Speaking to a private media outlet, PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat confirmed the claim. “The KP CM was stressed out as he did not want to proceed beyond the Kulsoom Hospital limit. He was not in favour of marching towards D-Chowk […] He even visited Bushra’s vehicle twice,” he said.

     

    The developments come following Tuesday night’s grand operation against PTI demonstrators in the federal capital. The crackdown prompted CM Gandapur and the former first lady to fall back and flee to KP where PTI is in power.


    Prior to the operation, the two had led a mammoth convoy to Islamabad, demanding the release of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan. Convoys led by the duo as well as other leaders of the party met with heavy resistance from law enforcement.


    With the three-day protests turning violent, multiple casualties were also reported.


    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had on late Tuesday night addressed media to announce that the capital city had been cleared of protesters after a join operation by police and Rangers personnel.

  • PTI leaders question Bushra Bibi’s role in party decision-making

    PTI leaders question Bushra Bibi’s role in party decision-making

    The core committee and political committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday inquired about the role of party founder Imran Khan’s spouse, Bushra Bibi, in the party’s decision-making process. 

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s party emphasised that decision-making authority should be in the hands of the party’s political leadership and not non-political persons, a party source told The News.

    PTI leadership raised the question of who led the protest towards D Chowk Islamabad when Imran himself had ordered that demonstrations be limited to the Sangjani area. Some members questioned why Imran Khan’s directions were ignored, asking who acted against the PTI founder chairman’s order. 

    However, party sources claimed that in both meetings, no one defended Bushra Bibi.

    Investigative journalist Ansar Abbasi revealed that CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur and Opposition Leader of the National Assembly Omer Ayub Khan conveyed Imran Khan’s message to Bushra Bibi to limit the protest march at Sangjani area; however, she remained adamant about marching towards D Chowk.

    Ansar Abbasi had claimed that following the meeting of Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and KP’s Advisor of Information and Broadcasting Barrister Saif with party founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi provided them with a helicopter to fly to Bushra Bibi and convince her to stop the march.

    However, two PTI leaders were a bit late as the march had already moved to the federal capital.

    On November 21, incarcerated Imran Khan had put demands before the federal government, including his release till Friday (November 22), to postpone his “final call” which the government did not agreed.

    PTI political and core committee on Wednesday condemned the alleged killing of their party demonstrators by the government. They demanded initiating the probe from within the party to identify those responsible for the decision to march to D Chowk, which led to the workers’ deaths.

    In the party meeting, it was also maintained that if the party founder’s direction had been strictly followed, there would have been a sit-in at Sangjani, and it would not only have avoided the killing of party workers but would have also led to the initiation of a formal dialogue between the Prime Minister (PM) Shahbaz Sharif’s led government and PTI.

    It should be mentioned here that following the Tuesday night grand operation against the protestors in the federal capital, multiple casualties were reported.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leadership claimed that more than twenty party workers had died. However, the government denied such a number of casualties.

  • ‘She didn’t mention which Khan’: Azma Bokhari’s inappropriate attack on Bushra Bibi draws criticism

    ‘She didn’t mention which Khan’: Azma Bokhari’s inappropriate attack on Bushra Bibi draws criticism

    Punjab’s Minister for Information, Azma Bokhari, has come under severe criticism on social media for her recent highly inappropriate and misogynistic press conference against the former first lady, Bushra Bibi.

     

    She referred to Bibi’s speech during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests when she said that she would not leave the dharna without the incarcerated former prime minister and her husband, Imran Khan – implying that they would not leave until Khan was free.

     

    “She said she would not be back from Islamabad without Khan, but she did not mention Imran Khan. So what is all the fuss about?” the minister said.

     

    “If she didn’t mention Imran Khan, that is because she went back with many Khans. Ali Amin Gandapur is also a Khan, and there were many other Khans with her,” stated the provincial minister.

     

    Bokhari’s press conference was held after PTI remained unsuccessful in having a rally in Islamabad that started on November 24 –  a move deemed as the party’s “final call” to push the government to agree to the party’s terms.

     

    One social media user wrote, “The more they abuse, troll and vulgar talk, the more points they get in Maryam’s weekly evaluation chart.” Another X user commented, “@AzmaBokhariPMLN, this is so below the belt, you wouldn’t like it if the other sides throw stones at your glasshouses.”

     

    Bushra Bibi had taken a central role in leading the PTI caravan to the federal capital from Peshawar; however, around midnight of November 26, the entire PTI leadership was nowhere to be seen as the security forces launched a crackdown on the protestors.

     

    Media outlets quickly reported that Bushra Bibi, along with the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur, had left for Peshawar through Haripur, while the PTI supporters on social media denied these reports at the time.

     

    PTI supporters on social media have been strongly criticising the entire PTI leadership for abandoning the people in the dark in Islamabad as the government launched a crackdown.

     

    The political situation in the country became tense over the last few days as protestors defied the government’s warning not to enter Islamabad while violent clashes took place between the PTI protestors and security forces, leading to multiple casualties.


    The government also deployed the Pakistan Army after violent clashes led to the deaths of Rangers personnel. A notification issued by the Interior Ministry said that the army was authorised to impose a curfew in any locality deemed necessary to maintain law and order.

     

    Interestingly, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi blamed a “secret hand” for failed negotiations with the PTI protestors, saying, “The PTI leadership wants to hold talks, but a secret hand is controlling the party, and it is stronger than all others. They have some other motives.”

     

    Naqvi’s comments came after reports claimed that PTI leadership, including founder Imran Khan, had approved shifting the protest to Sangjani amid violent clashes. The same was not accepted by Bushra Bibi, who said she would continue leading protesters to D-Chowk till she had spoken to her husband herself.

  • A helicopter, Bushra Bibi, and two PTI leaders; Ansar Abbasi reveals strange tale of PTI dharna

    A helicopter, Bushra Bibi, and two PTI leaders; Ansar Abbasi reveals strange tale of PTI dharna

    Half a day after PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur and Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi abruptly disappeared from the protest in Islamabad, the question remains of what actually happened. 

     

    Journalist Ansar Abbasi claims to have details of what really happened on Tuesday night. 

     

    He has revealed that two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders were provided helicopters to reach Hassan Abdal to convince former First Lady Bushra Bibi about the cancellation of the protest march towards D Chowk.

     

    The journalist revealed that following a meeting between Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Advisor of Information and Broadcasting Barrister Saif with party founder Imran Khan, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi provided them with a helicopter to fly to Bushra Bibi and convince her to stop the march.

     

    However, the two leaders were a bit late as the march had already moved to the federal capital.

     

    It merits a mention that on Monday (November 25), the second day of the protest march, at the end of the party founder meeting with Barrister Gohar Khan and Barrister Saif at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, Khan had agreed not to march on D Chowk and stage the situation in in the Sangjani area.

     

    Party leadership was informed to stage a sit-in at Sangjani until the outcome of the background dialogue between the government and PTI. 

     

    Sangjani is in the outskirts of Islamabad, where PTI held its September 8 rally.

     

    Ansar Abbasi stated that CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur and Opposition Leader of the National Assembly Omer Ayub Khan conveyed Imran Khan’s message to Bushra Bibi; however, she remained adamant about marching towards D Chowk.

     

    However, prior to the march towards Islamabad, Ali Amin Gandapur reportedly was not in favour of accompanying party founder Imran Khan’s spouse, Bushra Bibi, towards Islamabad.

     

    Following an argument between Gandapur and Bushra Bibi, she boarded the container from Peshawar.
    On November 21, Imran Khan had put demands before the federal government from jail, including his release till Friday (November 22), to postpone his “final call” which the government did not agree to. 

     

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    Ansar Abbasi furthermore claimed that the Interior Minister approached Ali Amin Gandapur and Omer Ayub Khan regarding the cancellation of the party protest. However, both remained helpless as the party’s central command was in the hands of Imran Khan’s wife.

     

    Mohsin Naqvi said on the same day that the “secret leadership” of the PTI was controlling everything, leaving other party leaders “powerless”.

     

    Speaking to media as PTI convoys continue to advance towards D-Chowk after violent overnight clashes, the interior minister said that party leaders did not want bloodshed, but they were powerless in front of a “secret leadership” that actually had control over the party.

     

    “Even the PTI leadership does not want bloodshed, but the secret leadership’s agenda is not aligned with Pakistan,” Mohsin Naqvi said, adding that a “hidden hand” was involved in the unrest.

     

    “The PTI leadership wanted to engage in dialogue, but the secret leadership did not want it,” he added.

  • Bushra Bibi urges people to join Nov 24 protest; skips it herself

    Bushra Bibi urges people to join Nov 24 protest; skips it herself

    After urging people to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “decisive” Islamabad protest, Bushra Bibi, the wife of jailed party founder Imran Khan, won’t be attending the same herself.

    According to the former first lady’s spokesperson Mashal Yousafzai, she won’t be attending the “do-or-die” protest due to illness.

    PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, in conversation with a private media outlet, also confirmed that Bushra would not participate in the PTI demonstration due to ill health.

    It may be noted that the announcement comes amid severe backlash over a video message wherein the former first lady had hinted at Saudi involvement in her husband’s ouster.

    In a rare on-screen appearance, Bushra had on November 21 released a video message to urge people to take to streets for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “decisive” Nov 24 protest. She had gone on to talk about her husband’s ouster as the prime minister.

    “The reason behind all powers standing against Khan hasn’t been told before. When Khan went to Madinah barefoot, Bajwa immediately started receiving calls about what kind of person he had brought [with him],” she said.

    According to Bushra’s allegations, Saudi leadership told Gen Bajwa that he had brought with him the “custodian of Shariah” at a time they were trying to “distance themselves from the Shariah system”.

    “After this, a smear campaign was launched against us, and [they] started calling Khan a Jewish agent,” the former first lady claimed.

    As the claims drew strong reactions from members of the government, PTI leaders and supporters alike – with only a few defending or clarifying Bushra’s remarks – her husband and party founder Imran Khan’s official account on X has posted an apparent clarification.

    “Bushra Bibi’s statement was deliberately taken out of context to draw our brotherly country KSA into a needless controversy. She didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all. My government was toppled through conspiracies, all orchestrated by General Bajwa. I tried to have these investigated through the Chief Justice and General Tariq Khan, but General Bajwa did not allow that to happen. Bushra Bibi has no connection with politics; she only conveyed my message to the nation, as my wife, regarding the November 24 protest,” read the statement on X.

    Khan’s account also claimed that bilateral relations between Pakistan and KSA were at their best during his tenure and he personally shared “excellent” relations with the Kingdom. “I have excellent relations with Saudi Arabia. When I was attacked in Wazirabad, one of the first calls I received was through the embassy from HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

    “Saudi Arabia has always stood by us in difficult times. Only two weeks prior to our government being toppled, we held a very successful OIC foreign minister’s conference in Islamabad, which would have been impossible to do had Saudi Arabia not supported and stood with us,” the statement added.

    Former prime minister (PM) Khan has been in jail since August last year without any access to the internet or his social media accounts. Posts on his official handles have time and again made headlines over confusion surrounding actual handlers of said accounts.

    PTI maintains that all statements on Khan’s social media are conveyed via his legal team after seeing him at Adiala Jail.

    Meanwhile, convoys led by top leadership of the PTI are currently en route to Islamabad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as the party decides to go forth with its plans to demand Khan’s release by taking to the streets.

    PTI’s march on Islamabad comes reportedly after talks with the government ended inconclusively. The federal government, in light of an Islamabad High Court (IHC) order and the upcoming visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Pakistan, has denied PTI the permission to hold a protest rally in the capital.

  • PTI leadership ‘discusses option’ to call off much-hyped Nov 24 protest

    PTI leadership ‘discusses option’ to call off much-hyped Nov 24 protest

    In view of former first lady Bushra Bibi’s controversial statement regarding Saudi Arabia and the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision against the party’s countrywide protest, the political committee of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is considering the option to call off its November 24 protest In Islamabad.

    The IHC, in a petition filed against PTI’s protest, has directed the federal capital’s administration to hold peaceful negotiations with the party, noting that if talks fail, the Interior Ministry should ensure order in accordance with the law.

    The verdict was followed by a video message by incarcerated former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, wherein she called on workers to not shy away from taking to streets, and hinted at alleged Saudi involvement PTI government’s ouster. The claims did not sit well with party leaders and supporters alike.

    In light of said developments, it was reported Saturday that a majority of PTI’s political committee members were in favour of calling off the much-hyped protest in case negotiations were initiated with the government.

    After the decision, a delegation of the PTI paid a visit to Adiala Jail for the party founder’s consent; however, a meeting with Khan could not take place.


      
    Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur hosted a meeting of party leaders in Peshawar to discuss strategy surrounding the Nov 24 call. The meeting came as the CM’s aide, Barrister Saif, stated that the party was considering to challenge the IHC decision and go forth with the protest call.

    Situation in Islamabad

    In view of the PTI’s reported decision, strict security measures are being taken by the federal government to tackle the former ruling party’s protest.

    While Section 144 has been imposed in the federal capital for two months, the administration has also sought an additional 8,000 police personnel along with the deployment of Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC).

    The government is also likely to suspend mobile services across the country.

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has issued stern directions to authorities to prevent the protesters from entering the federal capital, reports quoted sources as saying. Police vans have been delivered to Islamabad and necessary preparations have been finalised regarding the demonstrators’ arrest and where arrested party workers will be kept afterwards, they added.

    It merits a mention that Khan’s party, in recent months, has marched on the federal capital multiple times since after his arrest last year, with most protests ending in violent clashes with law enforcement.

    PTI’s Nov 24 protest comes in the backdrop of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko upcoming visit to the capital from Nov 25 to 27.

  • ‘She didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all’: Imran Khan defends Bushra Bibi’s controversial claims

    ‘She didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all’: Imran Khan defends Bushra Bibi’s controversial claims

    With former first lady Bushra Bibi landing in hot water over allegations that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was involved in her husband Imran Khan’s ouster from power, the incarcerated former premier’s official X (formerly Twitter) account has rushed to her defence.


    In a rare on-screen appearance, Bushra had on November 21 released a video message to urge people to take to streets for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “decisive” Nov 24 protest. She had gone on to talk about her husband’s ouster as the prime minister.


    “The reason behind all powers standing against Khan hasn’t been told before. When Khan went to Madinah barefoot, Bajwa immediately started receiving calls about what kind of person he had brought [with him],” she said.


    According to Bushra’s allegations, Saudi leadership told Gen Bajwa that he had brought with him the “custodian of Shariah” at a time they were trying to “distance themselves from the Shariah system”.
    “After this, a smear campaign was launched against us, and [they] started calling Khan a Jewish agent,” the former first lady claimed.


    As the claims drew strong reactions from members of the government, PTI leaders and supporters alike – with only a few defending or clarifying Bushra’s remarks – her husband and party founder Imran Khan’s official account on X has posted an apparent clarification.


    “Bushra Bibi’s statement was deliberately taken out of context to draw our brotherly country KSA into a needless controversy. She didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all. My government was toppled through conspiracies, all orchestrated by General Bajwa. I tried to have these investigated through the Chief Justice and General Tariq Khan, but General Bajwa did not allow that to happen. Bushra Bibi has no connection with politics; she only conveyed my message to the nation, as my wife, regarding the November 24 protest,” read the statement on X.


    Khan’s account also claimed that bilateral relations between Pakistan and KSA were at their best during his tenure and he personally shared “excellent” relations with the Kingdom. “I have excellent relations with Saudi Arabia. When I was attacked in Wazirabad, one of the first calls I received was through the embassy from HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”


    “Saudi Arabia has always stood by us in difficult times. Only two weeks prior to our government being toppled, we held a very successful OIC foreign minister’s conference in Islamabad, which would have been impossible to do had Saudi Arabia not supported and stood with us,” the statement added.


    It merits a mention that former prime minister (PM) Khan has been in jail since August last year without any access to the internet or his social media accounts. Posts on his official handles have time and again made headlines over confusion surrounding actual handlers of said accounts.


    PTI maintains that all statements on Khan’s social media are conveyed via his legal team after seeing him at Adiala Jail.

  • Bushra Bibi under fire for playing ‘religion card’, her claims against Saudi leadership

    Bushra Bibi under fire for playing ‘religion card’, her claims against Saudi leadership

    Former first lady Bushra Bibi is receiving severe backlash for her “uncalled for” video message wherein she accused Saudi leadership of playing a role in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s ouster, besides “unnecessarily playing the religion card”.

    Bushra Bibi, in a video message shared on PTI’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, alleged that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) played a role in her husband’s ouster as prime minister (PM).

    In a rare appearance ahead of PTI’s “decisive” November 24 protests, the former first lady went on to claim that the Saudi leadership had expressed their reservations to then army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    “The reason behind all powers standing against Khan hasn’t been told before. When Khan went to Madinah barefoot, Bajwa immediately started receiving calls about what kind of person he had brought [with him],” she said.

    According to Bushra’s allegations, Saudi leadership told Gen Bajwa that he had brought with him the “custodian of Shariah” at a time they were trying to “distance themselves from the Shariah system”.

    “After this, a smear campaign was launched against us and [they] started calling Khan a Jewish agent,” the former first lady claimed.

    Bushra also rejected rumours regarding the postponement of the scheduled party protest in the federal capital and called on PTI supporters to participate in the release of her husband.

    However, neither her allegations nor the use of religious rhetoric sit well with PTI leaders and supporters alike. The same was also heavily criticised by government members.

    Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said that implicating Saudi Arabia for “petty political point scoring” exposed the PTI’s “desperate mindset”.

    “We urge all political forces to desist from compromising Pakistan’s foreign policy in pursuance of their political objectives,” he said in a statement, adding that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were close friends and brothers.

    “This relationship is based on mutual respect,” Dar added.

    Speaking to a private media outlet, former federal information minister and PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that the statement would affect the party’s reputation.

    While some members of the PTI, including KP CM’s adviser Barrister Muhammad Saif and Khan’s close aide tried to defend the former first lady, saying that her statements had been taken “out of context” and she “did not name anyone”, netizens did not shy away from calling Bushra out.

    Musician and staunch supporter of the PTI, Salman Ahmad, said Bushra Bibi was “corrupt” and a “constant source of embarrassment” for Khan.

    “Corrupt and greedy Bushra Bibi and her family and equally corrupt friends like Malik Riaz Zulfi Bokhari, Farah Gogi and Gen Faiz were a constant source of embarrassment for Imran Khan who did not enter politics to enrich himself [sic],” he posted on X.

    They, he added, provided the excuses through their behavior. “It’s disgusting to say that he was removed because he walked barefoot in Mecca. So uneducated and so stupid.”

    “PTI can twist however it wants to, but this is a poorly done mess up that was not needed, and especially not at this time. 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. Whoever came up with this idea to put her on the screen within PTI should be kept in a 10-mile distance from any decision making,” posted one user.

    Another use said Bushra Bibi had “no relevance” to the PTI. “Not sure why she was trounced out to give message. When has Khan ever brought her in public to say even one word! @PTIofficial should say true to the vision and spirit Khan always said… it’s all about justice and the people and never about family leadership!”

    “All due respect to his sisters and wife… stay out of politics. Unless you want to join and then work through the party ranks. Wrt [sic] to what might have been said or not said it’s all speculation,” they said.

    “Let’s not bring religion into everything… whether someone walks with bare foot or not… it’s spreading jahiliyat in an illiterate population. Please stop selling illiteracy to keep the people happy with you. Keep your beliefs to yourself!” the user added.

  • Former first lady alleges Saudi involvement in Khan’s ouster

    Former first lady alleges Saudi involvement in Khan’s ouster

    After blaming the United States (US) for the better part of two years, Bushra Bibi, the spouse of former prime minister Imran Khan, has now accused Saudi Arabia of playing a role in Khan’s ouster from power back in 2022.

     

    In a rare appearance ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “decisive” November 24 protests, the former first lady has released a video statement alleging that Saudi leadership wanted Khan out and had expressed their reservations to then army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

     

    “The reason behind all powers standing against Khan hasn’t been told before. When Khan went to Madinah barefoot, Bajwa immediately started receiving calls about what kind of person he had brought [with him],” she said.

     

    According to Bushra’s allegations, Saudi leadership told Gen Bajwa that he had brought with him the “custodian of Shariah” at a time they were trying to “distance themselves from the Shariah system”.

     

    “After this, a smear campaign was launched against us and [they] started calling Khan a Jewish agent,” the former first lady claimed.

     

    With the video going viral and the claims drawing mixed reactions from netizens, former chief of army staff (COAS) also reacted to the allegations, rubbishing all claims made by wife of the ousted premier.

     

    Senior journalist Ansar Abbasi quoted sources close to Gen (r) Bajwa as saying that he did not receive any calls after the visit.

     

    “Sources have said that not only this entire barefoot story is fake but they also received the infamous [Toshakhana] gifts from Saudi leadership after that visit. Bushra Bibi’s daughter got married in Madinah after this event as well,” Abbasi reported on a private media outlet.

     

     

    Similarly, Pakistan Ulema Council chairman Maulana Tahir Ashrafi — who was also present during Khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia — denied the allegations and said the PTI founder received more than he asked for during the visit.

     

    “Which Shariah law did Imran impose in his tenure?” he asked, adding the former premier posed no threat to Saudi Arabia.

     

    Meanwhile, the former ruling party has also distanced itself from the allegations. Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister (CM) on Information and Public Relations Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif told a private media outlet that Bushra held no organisational position within the PTI and did not have any responsibilities in the party structure. 

     

    “Only the party chairman or secretary general can express PTI’s official position,” he said, adding that her statement was not issued on behalf of the party.

     

    “It is baseless to link her personal views with PTI policy,” Saif said further, dismissing any attempts to associate her views with the party’s policies. “Her viewpoint is her own. She will clarify whether her statement was personal or intended to represent the party’s stance.”

     

    He also clarified that party had never issued any statements alleging Saudi Arabia’s involvement in Khan’s removal from office.

  • VIDEO: Bushra Bibi ‘threatens’ PTI lawmakers in viral audio leak

    VIDEO: Bushra Bibi ‘threatens’ PTI lawmakers in viral audio leak

    Bushra Bibi, wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has allegedly threatened lawmakers of the party while directing them to mobilise support for the upcoming November 24 protest.


    As per the details, an audio leak from a party meeting in Peshawar on November 18, allegedly featured Bushra Bibi as telling PTI MNAs and MPAs that distribution of party tickets would be made on the basis of their participation in the protest scheduled for the federal capital.


    Jailed former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan had last week given the “final call” for a nationwide protest against alleged rigging in the February 8 general elections, and the passage of the 26th Amendment. His wife Bushra Bibi has reportedly taken charge amid reservations by incumbent party leadership regarding a protest demonstration.

     


    While PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai has confirmed the authenticity of the nine-minute audio recording, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information and Broadcasting Minister Barrister Saif has rejected claims that she chaired a party meeting in Peshawar last week.


    In the leaked audio, Bushra Bibi can allegedly be heard as quoting her husband and saying that every MPA should join the main procession in Islamabad with 5,000 workers whereas all MNAs should bring along 10,000 workers. No excuses shall be accepted in this regard, she can be heard as saying.
    “If a worker is injured, local MNAs and MPAs will take care of them. No one should get arrested nor allow others to be detained,” she said.

     

    Bushra Bibi also directed lawmakers to “plan in advance” in case there was a possibility of their arrests while en route to the federal capital. 


    “Prepare a plan in advance to avoid getting arrested,” she said, also telling party lawmaker to appoint three successors who could lead the caravans to Islamabad in case of senior leadership’s arrest.


    “Social media activists and YouTubers should share videos of the caravans in real-time,” she said.
    The former first lady also said that the November 24 protest was a “test of loyalty to the PTI founder”, expressing confidence that around 500,000 people will take to the streets.


    “Grouping at this critical time does not demonstrate loyalty to Khan,” she said in reference to reports of infighting within the PTI.


    Bushra Bibi had last month secured bail in the Toshakhana case after being incarcerated for nine months. The former first lady was taken into custody on January 31 after an Islamabad accountability court sentenced her and Imran to 14 years in jail.