ISLAMABAD: A day after a British magazine published a report detailing the alleged influence of former first lady Bushra Bibi during the PTI government, political temperatures spiked as the ruling PML-N and the PTI exchanged sharp criticism over the revelations. The article, carried by The Economist, claimed that Bushra Bibi played a decisive role in state affairs and exerted significant sway over key decisions taken by ex-prime minister Imran Khan.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari endorsed the report’s claims, saying it was “completely accurate and fully aligned with the facts”. She argued that the revelations exposed what she described as a deceptive spiritual system surrounding the former first lady, adding that Imran Khan relied on “manipulated information” presented to him as spirituality.
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The PTI, however, dismissed the publication as part of an “agenda-driven” campaign. Party spokesperson Sheikh Waqqas Akram said the report was a political ploy aimed at diverting public attention from what he called the government’s disastrous policies. He maintained that repeated attempts to undermine the PTI founder had only strengthened his popularity.
The report, titled “The mystic, the cricketer and the spy: Pakistan’s game of thrones”, alleged that Bushra Bibi exerted “absolute influence” and even engaged in black magic, citing claims from a former employee. It also hinted at her alleged interactions with intelligence officials, suggesting that advance information was used to create an aura of mysticism around her.
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As both sides intensified their rhetoric, the controversy added a fresh layer to Pakistan’s already heated political environment, with the PTI accusing rivals of character assassination and the PML-N insisting the revelations exposed the “true face” of the former ruling party.