Bushra Bibi accuses Saudi Arabia of 'playing role' in Imran Khan's ouster

Bushra Bibi, the former first lady and wife of incarcerated PTI founder, has accused Saudi Arabia of playing role in the ouster of the Imran Khan-led government in 2022 as she issued a rare video message ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) "do-or-die" protest. 

In the video statement shared on PTI’s official X handle, Bushra alleged that when the former prime minister went to Madina "barefoot", the then-army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa started receiving “their calls”.

Apparently referring to Saudi officials, the former first lady alleged that they expressed displeasure over Imran’s action.

She claimed that Bajwa was asked, "Who is this person you have brought with you [...] we don’t want such personalities."

"Since then, they launched a smear campaign against us and started calling Imran a Jewish agent," the former first lady alleged.

Meanwhile, she noted that PTI founder has sent a message that everyone should join the November 24 protest. "The date will not be changed under any condition.”

The former first lady said the protest date cannot be changed unless the PTI founder made an announcement.

"Our protest will be in line with law and Constitution," she said, noting that no one can be barred from staging a "peaceful protest" as per the law.

The statement drew strong backlash from the government officials, calling it a "suicide attack" to harm friendly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Reacting to the remarks, senior journalist Ansar Abbasi said that sources close to Gen (retd) Bajwa have rubbished Bushra Bibi’s allegations.

The source confirmed that Bajwa did not receive any calls after the visit.

Similarly, Pakistan Ulema Council chairman Maulana Tahir Ashrafi — who was present during Imran’s visit to Saudi Arabia — also 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 what threat the former premier posed to Saudi Arabia.

"The real issue is that Saudi is investing in the country,” Ashrafi said, adding that a certain group is spreading propaganda against the friendly country. "This is an attempt to appease the forces hostile to Saudi Arabia," he concluded.

On the other hand, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that Bushra organised the marriage ceremony of her daughter in the same country she accused of being involved in Imran’s ouster.

"The gifts from the same country were sold in the black market," he said while referring to the Toshakhana case against the husband-wife duo.

The rare statement of the former first lady came in the backdrop of ruling party leaders allegations that she has taken centre stage at the party since her release from prison last month.

They also claimed that Bushra Bibi is mobilising the party’s workers and linked the allocation party tickets with the lawmakers bringing thousands of workers to Islamabad November 24 protest.

However, lawyer Faisal Chaudhry while quoting Imran Khan categorically rejected such reports and said she just conveyed PTI founder’s message to the party leaders. “She is neither joining politics nor will she in future,” the advocate clarified.

PTI protest

The federal government is bracing for up the party's "do-or-die" protest, with the authorities planning to seal off Islamabad, while the PTI is also mobilising its workers to ensure massive participation.

The former ruling party, for months, has been engaged in a political tug-of-war with the ruling coalition — which it alleges came into power via rigged February 8 polls — and has held multiple protests in the federal capital.

In a relevant development today, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the authorities concerned not to allow the PTI to hold its "do-or-die" protest in the federal capital in violation of the newly enacted peaceful assembly law.

In a five-page verdict issued following the hearing, the IHC's top judge noted that that learned counsel for the petitioner — who is a trader by profession — contended that life in Islamabad Capital Territory comes to a complete halt whenever there is any political activity, protest or sit-in.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq directed the authorities concerned to constitute a committee "to be headed preferably by the Minister for Interior or any other person to engage with the" PTI leadership, informing them of the sensitivity over the weekend due to visit of Belarus president.

It added that no formal application was sent to the authorities concerned to seek permission for the assembly [PTI's protest].

"This Court was also informed that though there is some communication with the leadership of respondent No.5 [PTI] but no formal engagement as such has been made."

In case of "no breakthrough" in talks between the government and the PTI leadership, the authorities have the responsibility to ensure law and order situation without minimum to the life of ordinary citizens and no violation of the Islamabad rally law, the high court ruled.