Bushra’s remarks about S Arabia spark controversy

ISLAMABAD: Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder chairman Imran Khan, Thursday claimed that Imran Khan as premier was punished also for walking in Madina barefooted.

She claimed in her 10-minute video clip that when Imran Khan went barefoot to Madina as the prime minister, General Bajwa started receiving calls immediately after he returned.

She continued that General Bajwa was told that “we want to abolish the Sharia system in this country, while you have brought ‘thekedars of Shariat’’ and that we don’t want this”. She claimed that after this, mud-slinging was carried out against her and Imran and he was called agent of Jews.

“Imran came to know about this when General Bajwa and his family shared this with someone,” she explained and said that Khan never made this public and that “if this is untrue, then Bajwa and his family can be asked about this”.

She said then the institutions also gave reports that the actual story was that Khan was being punished for his struggle for “real freedom and for walking barefoot in Madina Sharif.

Bushra Bibi said Imran had appealed to judges and lawyers to participate in the November 24 protest and she made a conditional offer to postpone it. She said Imran Khan was struggling for the supremacy of the Constitution and the law in the country, so it was also duty of judges and lawyers to participate in the protest.

The burqa-clad wife of the PTI founder said that the talk about postponing the protest in the name of talks, was all propaganda and that the protest would take place on Nov 24 in any case.

However, she contended that the date of Nov-24 protest could be changed only if Imran Khan is released from jail and he himself gives people a plan of action for the future.

She said that Imran Khan’s message is that people from all walks of life should participate in the Nov 24 protest, because when everyone becomes part of it, the movement would be successful.

Bushra Bibi said Imran Khan was in jail fighting for supremacy of the law; he had sent many action plans for success of the final call, which he would bring forward when the time comes.

She said that every child of the country was a witness that the PTI was being oppressed. She made an appeal to the law-enforcement agencies that “protesters are also your brothers, so do not oppress them”.

Bushra said that Imran Khan, who is now 72, also wanted to spend time with his family and stay at home, but he is locked in a small prison cell for the sake of the nation.

She regretted that petitions were being filed in the courts to stop the PTI from protest. “This oppression has to stop. Do not become Yazid; he was also a Muslim but he committed oppression out of ego,” she added.

Imran Khan’s wife said that the message of the founder of PTI was that he would not take revenge on anyone after coming out of jail, as he was absolutely clear that taking revenge on anyone after coming to power was tantamount to invoking the displeasure of Allah.

She said that whoever was giving the message that Imran Khan would come out and take revenge, was making a false statement.

Bushra Bibi said in the entire political system of Pakistan, Imran Khan was like a lotus flower in the mud.

She said “the rulers of our country are fighting for power to cover up their corruption, whereas Imran Khan is struggling for real freedom in the country”. She said “we are accused that we people are raising slogans of al-Jihad; so we did not give this instruction to any worker, all this is coming from the hearts of people”.

However, former army chief General Bajwa categorically denied the allegations levelled by Bushra Bibi against Saudi Arabia.

A source close to General Bajwa told The News that former army chief was shocked to hear what Bushra Bibi said while quoting him in her video message about Saudi rulers’ alleged anger against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.

“It’s a complete lie and I can say it on oath,” the source quoted Bajwa as saying. He added that Bajwa reminded that after their alleged troubled visit to Saudi Arabia, Bushra and Imran visited Saudi Arabia many times and received expensive gifts including watches and necklaces from the same Saudi rulers.

The source said General Bajwa recalled that Bushra Bibi also later visited Saudi Arabia for Nikah of her daughter.

Meanwhile, in response to the media queries regarding Bushra Bibi comments about Saudi Arabia, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said: “Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are close friends and brothers.

“This relationship is based on mutual respect. We have great admiration for Saudi Arabia’s journey of development and prosperity. The Pakistani nation is proud of its close relationship with Saudi Arabia which has always stood by Pakistan through thick and thin.”

He said: “Implicating Saudi Arabia for petty political point scoring is regrettable and indicative of a desperate mindset. We urge all political forces to desist from compromising Pakistan’s foreign policy in pursuance of their political objectives.”

Meanwhile, Information Minister Atta Tarar strongly condemned the statement made by Bushra Bibi, saying “she levelled a very dirty allegation”.

In a statement, he said Bushra Bibi levelled an obnoxious charge against such a country where she married off her daughter. The minister said the same country gave her gifts which Bushra Bibi sold in the black market.

Separately, Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi termed the allegation against brotherly country Saudi Arabia a pack of lies and part of a conspiracy to sabotage relations between the two countries. “I was part of official visit of Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia, and during the visit, they gave respect to him as well as what he demanded,” he recalled.

Talking to The News, Ashrafi said General Bajwa was also present in all meetings in Saudi Arabia and there was no question of receiving such calls. He said it was part of propaganda that was going on against Saudi Arabia for the last few days.

He said some elements were against the Saudi Arabia’s investment in Pakistan. He said the conspiracy at this point in time was also due to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s joint stance on Palestine. “Our message to all those conspirators was that they will fail in their designs and Pakistan and Saudi Arab would stand united as their relations were based on faith,” he added.