WEB DESK: A recent article presents a highly critical view of former prime minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), highlighting allegations of spiritual influence, internal party dysfunction, and contradictions in the party’s public narrative.
Seeking Power Through Spirituality
The piece portrays Khan as turning to Bushra Bibi not for personal reform but for “spiritual guidance linked with worldly success,” particularly during periods of political vulnerability. This, the article suggests, wrapped political ambitions in a religious aura.
Superstitious Rituals in Private Life
Former domestic staff claim that daily demands for beef, black animals’ heads and organs were routine, and that meat was allegedly rotated around Khan’s head to ward off “negative influences.” Such accounts depict superstitious practices surrounding the national leader.
Bushra Bibi’s Intervention in State Affairs
A former cabinet member is quoted as saying Bushra Bibi exerted “complete interference” in governmental decision-making—contradicting PTI’s stated commitment to institutional governance and meritocracy.
Fear and Restricted Access Inside Bani Gala
Drivers and staff allege that access to Khan, flight timings, and even decisions on whether an aircraft should take off required Bushra Bibi’s approval, implying that a national leader’s schedule was dictated by a spiritual authority figure.
PTI Insiders’ Claims of ‘Black Magic’
Prominent financier Jahangir Tareen allegedly expressed concerns about black magic linked to the First Lady, after which he was sidelined from the party. This suggests that inner whispers, not party mechanisms, influenced political decisions.
Use and Discarding of Loyalists
The article recounts how workers and aides who questioned Bushra Bibi’s influence were swiftly removed—challenging PTI’s claims of fairness and loyalty.
Military Backing Undercutting the ‘Outsider’ Narrative
It reiterates the widespread belief that Khan’s 2018 electoral victory was facilitated by the military and intelligence apparatus, undermining PTI’s claim of rising to power solely through popular support and anti-establishment struggle.
Claim of ISI Shaping Khan’s Views Through Spiritual Intermediaries
The article suggests that the ISI passed information to spiritual figures linked to Bushra Bibi, who then conveyed these insights to Khan as “visions” or divine signsraising questions about his political independence.
General Asim Munir’s Removal Presented as Self-Preservation
Khan’s decision to remove the then-ISI chief is portrayed as an act driven not by principle but by a reported corruption probe involving Bushra Bibi—casting doubt on Khan’s anti-mafia rhetoric.
Unfulfilled Economic and Welfare Promises
The article recalls PTI’s unkept pledges of millions of homes and jobs, citing economic decline and Khan’s later admission that “one term is not enough”—weakening the promise of a “New Pakistan.”
Corruption Cases Challenging the ‘Clean’ Image
Details of high-value gifts, the Al-Qadir Trust case and the subsequent convictions of Khan and Bushra Bibi are highlighted as blows to PTI’s anti-corruption narrative.
Personality-Driven Politics Over Institutions
The article describes PTI as revolving around its leader and his spouse, with decisions based on dreams, personal preferences and spiritual signs—rather than institutional party processes.
Violent Protests After Khan’s Arrest
It notes that PTI supporters attacked military installations and national monuments after Khan’s arrest, portraying the party as one that crosses red lines despite claiming to defend institutions.
Bushra Bibi’s Gendered Portrayal Yet Real Influence
Despite acknowledging misogynistic narratives directed at her, the article still presents Bushra Bibi as an unelected but powerful figure shaping key political decisions.
Khan Seen as a Naive, Passive Decision-Maker
Friends quoted in the report describe Khan as “innocent” and unaware of controversies surrounding Bushra Bibi, portraying him as a leader easily influenced by spiritual beliefs and institutional pressures—contradicting his image as a tough, decisive statesman.
