Imran Khan places trust in Bushra Bibi, not ‘compromised’ PTI leadership: report

In the wake of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s imprisonment, his wife, Bushra Bibi, has stepped into a more prominent political role, acting as his direct messenger to the public and party workers.

According to Bushra Bibi’s close aides, Khan has turned to her for communication with the masses, bypassing party intermediaries whom he feels are not conveying his messages accurately.

Mashal Yousafzai, Bushra Bibi’s spokesperson, shared with The Guardian that Khan’s dissatisfaction with his party leadership has prompted him to direct his wife to take charge of rallying support.

Yousafzai explained that Bibi, despite having no prior political experience, was given detailed instructions from Khan on how to engage with PTI workers and leadership, specifically calling for action to demand his release.

According to her sister, Maryam Riaz Wattoo, who spoke to The Guardian, Bibi followed Khan’s instructions to move forward with the protest despite the pushback. Wattoo, who introduced Khan to Bibi in 2015, defended her sister’s actions, claiming that the media had misrepresented her as an apolitical figure, while emphasizing her deeply religious nature and devotion to Khan.

Imran Khan, currently jailed on charges he claims are politically motivated, has been in prison for over 500 days. His supporters argue that the charges are part of a political vendetta orchestrated by his opponents.

Throughout this period, Khan has leaned heavily on his wife to carry out his wishes, with the former prime minister publicly calling Bushra Bibi his "murshad" (spiritual guide), a term that underscores her influence on him.

Despite her increased visibility, Bushra Bibi remains a polarizing figure within PTI. Some party members have voiced concerns about her growing prominence, suspecting that her rise may be linked to the diminishing trust Khan has in the party’s senior leadership.

Khan himself, however, has expressed his approval of Bibi’s actions, reportedly smiling when he learned that she was leading a protest march, describing her as an “intelligent woman.”