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.
