Bushra Bibi’s Allegations on Saudi Arabia Denied by Sources Close to General Bajwa
Islamabad:Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, has made a controversial claim, alleging that after Imran Khan visited Medina barefoot, calls started coming to then Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, asking him why he had brought someone who was perceived as undermining Sharia law. Bushra Bibi stated in a video message that following Khan’s visit to the holy city, there was pressure on General Bajwa from certain circles, who reportedly disapproved of Khan’s association with Islamic principles.
Bushra Bibi claimed, “After Imran Khan’s visit to Medina, General Bajwa started receiving calls saying, ‘Why have you brought someone who is promoting Sharia, we don’t want this in our country.’ This was the moment when efforts began to tarnish our reputation. They began calling Imran Khan a ‘Jewish agent’ and targeting me as well.”
However, sources close to General Bajwa have strongly denied these allegations, labeling them as false. Senior journalist Ansar Abbasi reported that sources from General Bajwa’s inner circle categorically rejected Bushra Bibi’s claim, with one source saying, “I am ready to go to the Holy Kaaba and declare that what Bushra Bibi has said is completely false.”
According to Abbasi, Bajwa’s close associates stated that no such calls were made, and that after the visit, no such issues arose. The sources labeled Bushra Bibi’s statements as untrue.
Bushra Bibi’s remarks have sparked backlash from PTI leaders and supporters as well, who have condemned her comments as irresponsible. Some PTI officials are attempting to clarify that Bushra Bibi was referring to General Bajwa’s father-in-law, though analysts have dismissed this explanation as implausible.
**Tahir Ashrafi Denies Allegations**
Meanwhile, Allama Tahir Ashrafi, the Prime Minister’s advisor on the Middle East during Imran Khan’s tenure, who accompanied the couple during their visit, has also refuted Bushra Bibi’s claims. He stated that such an accusation is baseless and part of a larger campaign aimed at harming Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia. “The accusations are entirely false. We should not be making baseless allegations against friendly nations like Saudi Arabia. There has been no implementation of Sharia in Pakistan under Imran Khan, and during his last visit to Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom provided substantial assistance to Pakistan,” he said.
Ashrafi also emphasized that Saudi Arabia is a country where Allah’s laws are respected, and they would have supported any attempt to implement Sharia in Pakistan, rather than condemning it.
**Political Leaders Respond**
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif criticized the political motives behind such statements, saying, “They are ready to sell watches for personal profit, and now they’re creating stories to gain political advantage. They are even invoking the Sharia card for political gain. These are the same people who claim to be paragons of Sharia themselves.”
In response to Bushra Bibi’s allegations, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar called the remarks “disappointing” and said they reflected a negative mindset. Dar reaffirmed the strong ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, stating that the two countries share a longstanding relationship based on mutual respect and have supported each other through difficult times. He urged political leaders not to compromise Pakistan’s foreign policy for petty political gains.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are brotherly nations, and we should refrain from making unfounded accusations against Saudi Arabia for political point-scoring,” Dar added.
Bushra Bibi’s statement and the subsequent political fallout highlight the deepening divisions within Pakistan’s political landscape and its potential diplomatic repercussions.
