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Bushra Bibi
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Bushra Bibi Khan[a] (née Bushra Riaz Wattoo, born 1971[1]) is a Pakistani faith healer[b] and politician. She is married to Imran Khan who was the prime minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022.
Key Information
Early life and family
[edit]Bushra Bibi was born in the early 1970s into a conservative, politically active landowning family in central Punjab.[2][3] Her family belongs to the Wattoo clan, a landowning Jat group,[4] of whom the Manekas are a sub-clan.[5][6] Her grandfather was a landowner, while her father later sold his land and opened a Chinese restaurant.[1]
Bushra and her sister, Maryam, were sent to Lahore to live with relatives.[1] According to her sister, they attended Queen Mary College, though the school reportedly has no record of their attendance.[1] Accounts from this period describe her as "ultra-modern," and her sister has disputed claims that she "ran wild" in her youth.[1]
Career as a faith healer
[edit]Disturbed by her troubled arranged marriage, Bushra Bibi turned to Sufi Islam.[1] As her children grew older, she spent increasing time at the shrine of Baba Farid, a 12th-century Sufi poet and mystic, in Pakpattan.[1]
By her late 20s, Bushra Bibi had begun establishing herself as a pir, advising a close circle of friends and family.[1] She reportedly dedicated time to all-night prayers and the study of Islamic mysticism.[1] During this period, she also led pilgrimages. Her then-husband, Maneka, once accompanied her on a week-long barefoot pilgrimage from Lahore to Pakpattan.[1] According to her sister, Bushra Bibi became increasingly religious, and more people began seeking her advice.[1]
Personal life
[edit]First marriage
[edit]In 1989, at the age of 18, Bushra had an arranged marriage with Khawar Maneka, a son of Ghulam Muhammad Maneka and brother of Ahmad Raza Maneka.[1][7][8] After the marriage, she managed the Maneka family's homes in Lahore, Islamabad, and their ancestral town of Pakpattan.[1] The couple had five children, two sons and three daughters.[5] Her eldest daughter Mehru Maneka is the daughter-in-law of politician Mian Atta Muhammad Manika and has been a member of PTI since 2018.[5][9][10]
The couple divorced in 2017.[5]
Second marriage
[edit]Khan and Bushra met in 2015 through Bushra's sister, Maryam Riaz Wattoo.[9][11] Wattoo has been involved in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).[12] She has worked in the United Arab Emirates as an advisor for higher education affairs in the Ministry of Education.[13] She also led the Higher Education Development Project, a World Bank-funded initiative in Pakistan.[14]
Khan was a frequent visitor to Baba Farid's shrine in Pakpattan, where he would pay homage to the renowned 12th-century Sufi saint. He usually visited the town in the evening escorted by his private guards, and would later stay for a few hours at the Maneka family's residence, his local hosts, after which he would return to Islamabad. The Manekas were influential locally, and shared a "spiritual relationship" with Khan.[6] Bushra, married to Khawar Maneka at the time, was known as a Sufi scholar, spiritual mentor, and faith healer, also referred to as a pir or murshid,[6] and this is what reportedly drew Khan closer to her.[15] She has been described as a leader of pilgrimages to Baba Farid's shrine.[15]
During his visits, Khan would often consult her on spiritual matters whenever he found himself in a "difficult situation."[6] It was reported that Khan first interacted with Bibi shortly before the 2015 by-election in Lodhran for the NA-154 constituency. He became "very pleased" when his candidate Jahangir Tareen won that election, which she had correctly predicted, and started visiting and consulting her more regularly for guidance.[6] As the visits became more frequent, their personal understanding, love and affection also grew.[15] However, the prospect of marriage never surfaced until Khan learnt of Bushra's divorce. A few months after their marriage, the couple went on a pilgrimage to Makkah.[15]
My interest in Sufism started 30 years ago. It changed my life. Sufism is an order with many levels, but I have never met anyone who is as high as my wife. My interest in her began with that.
Bushra has been described as an introvert who prefers to stay at home rather than attending social functions and gatherings very frequently, to which Khan admittedly has no objections, as he himself is "past the age of socialising".[15] With regards to her marriage with Imran, Bibi has clarified that, contrary to some reports in the media, her marriage to Imran took place seven months after the ‘iddat period’ following the dissolution of her first marriage.[16]
Involvement in politics
[edit]Bushra was noted as the first niqab-wearing spouse of a Pakistani prime minister.[17][18] Bibi stated that her decision to wear a niqab is a personal choice in line with religious teachings and that she is not seeking to impose it on anyone else.[19] Shortly after Khan took office, the media quoted Bibi as being "afraid" and commenting, "Power comes and goes."[20]
During the premiership of Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi's influence extended directly to matters of state and party politics.[1][11] According to close aides, she influenced major political decisions, such as ministerial appointments, and during some political meetings, she would listen from behind a screen and provide guidance to Imran Khan.[11] Aun Chaudhry, a former political aide to Khan, claimed he was dismissed from the prime minister's oath-taking ceremony based on an undisclosed "dream" Bushra Bibi had.[1] Other accounts claimed she would advise Khan on "propitious" times to travel, allegedly delaying a flight for four hours.[1]
November 2024 PTI protest
[edit]Bushra Bibi played a prominent role in the November 2024 PTI protest, entering Islamabad alongside thousands of PTI supporters who breached security barricades to demand Imran Khan's release. She addressed the crowd near D-Chowk, a central location close to parliament, and called for holding the protest there. According to sources, this decision contrasted with earlier instructions attributed to Imran Khan, which suggested gathering on the city's outskirts. When the government launched a midnight crackdown involving tear gas, rubber bullets, and arrests of protesters, she left the protest site. Her departure prompted criticism from some protesters who felt abandoned during the violent clashes.[21][22] The protests turned violent, resulting in at least six deaths. PTI eventually ended the protests. Bushra Bibi's active involvement marked a shift from her previously private role.[23][24]
Convictions
[edit]Iddat case
[edit]On 4 February 2024, Bushra Bibi was sentenced to seven years in prison along with her husband, Imran Khan, by a local court for violating Section 496 of the Pakistan Penal Code by marrying during her Iddat period.[25] Judge Qudratullah also invalidated their initial marriage dated 1 January 2018, and imposed a fine of Rs 0.5 million on each.[25] The court concluded that Khan and Bibi had knowingly engaged in an unlawful marriage on 1 January 2018.[25] Despite the couple's claim that a February 2018 ceremony was a non-marital religious event, the judge determined it was a valid marriage based on witness testimonies and rejected their claims that it occurred post-Iddat.[25] However, on 13 July 2024, ADSJ Afzal Majoka dismissed the case and ordered their immediate release.[26]
Al-Qadir Trust case
[edit]The Al-Qadir Trust case, commonly known as the £190m case involved allegations that Khan and some others in 2019 misappropriated Rs50 billion — amounting to £190 million at the time — sent by Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government during his tenure as the country's prime minister.
Imran Khan was arrested by NAB on 13 November 2023. Bushra was also interrogated. On 1 December 2023 NAB filed the reference in Accountablity court against them. The couple were indicted on 27 February 2024.
On 17 January 2025, Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment over the Al-Qadir Trust case, while Bushra Bibi was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in the same case.[27]
In July 2025, Bushra Bibi and her husband, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, filed fresh petitions in the Islamabad High Court seeking urgent hearings for the suspension of their convictions in the £190 million case. Filed through Barrister Salman Safdar, the petitions alleged that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was deliberately delaying proceedings through repeated adjournments, despite earlier court assurances.
The delay has been criticised as part of a broader pattern of political victimisation, with PTI leaders facing legal obstacles widely viewed as orchestrated by the military establishment and interim government. The case continues amid allegations of massive electoral rigging in the 2024 general elections, which critics say were manipulated to sideline PTI and suppress popular opposition.[28]
Toshakhana case
[edit]Bushra Bibi was also given a 14-year sentence in Toshakhana case alongside her husband, Imran Khan, after both were convicted of illegally profiting from state gifts while he was in office.[29]
Imprisonment
[edit]On 25 April 2024, Mashal Yousafzai, a spokesperson for Bushra Bibi had claimed that Bibi was poisoned in prison and faced medical negligence after two-to-three drops of "toilet cleaner" were dropped in her meal on 24 February. Yousafzai had also claimed that an endoscopy revealed ulceration and inflammation in Bibi's stomach but authorities barred her from getting a blood test done.[30]
She was granted bail on 23 October 2024[31][32] and was released the next day.[33]
In January 2025, Bushra Bibi was arrested again.[34]
In July 2025, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan alleged that his wife, Bushra Bibi, was facing inhumane treatment in prison, including the suspension of all basic human and legal rights. He claimed that this treatment was being carried out on the orders of Army Chief Asim Munir, whom he accused of holding a personal grudge against her. Khan stated that Bushra Bibi was being targeted as a means to emotionally pressure him.[35] Later, in his September 2025 letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, he reiterated that she was subjected to "inhuman and degrading treatment," claiming she had been denied access to medical care, books, and television. Khan also argued that, according to rulings by superior courts, female prisoners are entitled to leniency through bail as a matter of right, but asserted that this principle had been suspended in her case.[36]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Urdu: بشریٰ بی بی
- ^ Multiple references:
- Drury, Flora (1 February 2024). "Bushra Bibi: Who is the faith healer wife of Pakistani ex-PM Imran Khan?". BBC.
- "Bushra Khan, Imran Khan's wife, marches on Pakistan's capital". The Economist. 5 December 2024.
A self-styled faith healer, she has been the subject of lurid gossip accusing her of practising witchcraft
- Mansour, Juliette (28 November 2024). "Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi emerges as Pakistan protest figure". Mercury News.
A faith healer, Bibi and Khan became close when he turned to her for spiritual guidance in his political career.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Bennett-Jones, Owen; Taskeen, Bushra (14 November 2025). "The mystic, the cricketer and the spy: Pakistan's game of thrones". 1843.
- ^ Drury, Flora (1 February 2024). "Bushra Bibi: Who is the faith healer wife of Pakistani ex-PM Imran Khan?". BBC.
Bushra Bibi, who is reportedly now in her 40s, was quick to rubbish the story in her only television interview to date, in October 2018.
- ^ "Former first lady, spiritual leader: Who is Bushra Bibi?". Reuters. 17 May 2023.
Bushra, in her late 40s, hails from a family of landowners in Punjab.
- ^ Swami, Praveen (24 October 2021). "Can Imran Khan's secret weapon defeat the Pakistan Army, and build an Islamic state?". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
[...] Bushra was born into a minor branch of the prominent landowning jatt-caste Wattoo clan [...]
- ^ a b c d Jamal, Sana (19 February 2018). "Baba Farid: Where Imran Khan and Bushra Maneka found each other". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Butt, Shafiq (18 February 2018). "What brings PTI chief to a remote town?". Dawn. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ Jamal, Sana (8 January 2018). "Imran Khan did not break up my marriage: Bushra's ex-husband". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Who's Khawar Farid Maneka and why Bushra Bibi took divorce from him". Daily Times. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Imran Khan's sisters once again in the dark regarding his marriage". The Express Tribune. 8 January 2018. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ "Imran Khan's stepdaughter Mehru Maneka joins Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf". New Indian Express. PTI. 6 August 2018. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ a b c Ellis-Petersen, Hannah; Baloch, Shah Meer (2 December 2024). "Who is Bushra Bibi? Imran Khan's wife stands at the forefront of the Pakistan protests". The Guardian.
- ^ "PTI leadership concerned over Bushra's sister, spokesperson's narrative: Marwat". Geo News. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "Times Higher Education's Arab University Rankings advisory board". Times Higher Education. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "Fact check: Did the former first lady's sister work for HEC from UAE?". The News International. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "I know more about physical attraction than anyone else: Imran Khan on his third marriage". Dawn. 22 July 2018. Archived from the original on 19 August 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "عوام کے لیے بشری بی بی کے انٹرویو کے اہم پیغامات - ہم نیوز". ہم نیوز (in Urdu). 28 September 2018. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- ^ "Burqa of Pakistan's first lady 'unmasks societal biases'". The Express Tribune. 18 August 2018. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ Gulzar, Falah (28 September 2018). "Bushra: Imran Khan will take time to change Pakistan". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ "ہم نیوز پر بشری بی بی کا انٹرویو سوشل میڈیا کا اہم موضوع - ہم نیوز". ہم نیوز. 28 September 2018. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- ^ "First lady Bushra Maneka 'afraid' after Imran Khan sworn in as Pakistan PM". Deccan Chronicle. 18 August 2018. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ Nath, Sanstuti (27 November 2024). "All About Bushra Bibi, Imran Khan's Wife And Central Figure In Pakistan Protests". NDTV. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Mukul, Sushim (27 November 2024). "Imran Khan aide Gandapur does a hat-trick, flees protest site with Bushra Bibi". India Today. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Mukherjee, Vasudha (27 November 2024). "Who is Bushra Bibi?". Business Standard. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "Pakistan court acquits former PM Imran Khan, wife in unlawful marriage case". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d Asad, Malik (4 February 2024). "Imran, Bushra convicted in Iddat case, too". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Mehtab, Umer; Naseer, Tahir (13 July 2024). "Release from jail remains elusive as NAB 'arrests' Imran, Bushra in new case after Iddat conviction overturned". Dawn. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ Ewe, Koh (17 January 2025). "Imran Khan jailed for 14 years in corruption case". BBC. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ "Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi seek early hearing in 190m pound case". Dunya News. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ "Toshakhana 2.0: Bushra Bibi's release order issued, security heightened at Adiala Jail". The Express Tribune. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "'Drops of toilet cleaner mixed in Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi's food'". The Times of India. 25 April 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Naseer, Tahir (23 October 2024). "Bushra Bibi granted bail in new Toshakhana case". Dawn. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ Naseer, Tahir (24 October 2024). "Imran's wife Bushra Bibi freed after nearly 9 months following bail in new Toshakhana case". Dawn. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, released from prison". Al Jazeera. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "Bushra Bibi arrested after conviction in £190m case". The Express Tribune. 17 January 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ "'Inhumane treatment, no basic rights': Former Pak PM Imran Khan says Asim Munir should be blamed if anything happens to him". Wion. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ Mehtab, Umer (18 September 2025). "Imran expresses grievances in letter to CJP Afridi, urges him to direct IHC to fix 'critical' petitions". Dawn. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
Bushra Bibi
View on GrokipediaEarly Life and Spiritual Background
Early life and family origins
Bushra Bibi, originally named Bushra Riaz Wattoo, was born in the early 1970s into a conservative landowning family of the Wattoo clan in central Punjab, Pakistan.[1][9] Her family's agricultural holdings and regional influence aligned with traditional Punjabi landowner dynamics, though specific details on her parents or precise birthplace, such as Dipalpur in Okara District, remain inconsistently reported across sources and largely unverified in primary records.[10] Public information on her childhood and upbringing is limited, with accounts emphasizing a pious, insular environment shaped by familial conservatism rather than formal education or public exposure.[3] This background positioned her within Punjab's rural elite, where clan affiliations like the Wattoo often intersect with local politics and land disputes, but no documented evidence details her personal experiences prior to adulthood.[11]Development as a faith healer and Sufi devotee
Bushra Bibi, née Bushra Wattoo, hails from the Wattoo clan in Punjab province and developed her reputation as a faith healer in Pakpattan district, a region associated with the shrine of the 13th-century Sufi saint Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar, known as Baba Farid.[12] [13] Locally known as Pinki Pir or Pinky Pirni—terms denoting a female spiritual guide or pir (holy person)—she cultivated a modest following through practices rooted in Sufism, emphasizing mystical devotion, personal piety, and spiritual intercession.[14] [15] Her background in a family of landowners provided a stable context for these activities, though details of her early immersion in Sufi traditions remain sparse, with reports indicating she was already established as a respected pir by her mid-40s around 2018.[16] [17] As a devotee of Baba Farid, whose teachings promote asceticism and divine love, Bibi positioned herself as an expert in Sufi principles, offering counsel on personal and spiritual matters to seekers in Pakpattan.[18] [1] Faith healing in this context typically involves invoking saintly blessings for ailments or guidance, aligning with broader Pakistani traditions of piri-muridi (disciple-master relationships) at Sufi shrines, though specific rituals attributed to Bibi, such as amulet distribution or dream interpretations, lack detailed public documentation beyond her general advisory role.[3] Her influence grew through word-of-mouth within conservative Sufi circles, where she was regarded for her seclusion and adherence to purdah, fostering trust among devotees without widespread media exposure prior to her political associations.[19] This phase of her life underscores a transition from familial roots to local spiritual authority, sustained by Sufism's emphasis on inner enlightenment over institutional structures, though her small-scale operations contrasted with more prominent shrine-based pirs.[5] Reports from the period highlight her as a discreet figure, with her healing practices serving a niche community rather than commercial enterprises common among some contemporaries.[12]Personal Life and Marriages
First marriage and family
Bushra Bibi, originally named Bushra Riaz, entered her first marriage in 1989 to Khawar Farid Maneka, a civil servant and senior customs official from a politically influential landowning family in Punjab province.[20][17] The union lasted approximately 28 years, until their divorce proceedings began around 2017.[9][21] The couple had five children together: two sons, Ibrahim Maneka and Moosa Maneka, and three daughters whose names have not been widely publicized in reliable reports.[22][23] During the marriage, Bushra Bibi was known within family circles for her growing interest in spirituality and faith healing, though public details on family dynamics remain limited due to the couple's preference for privacy.[19] Khawar Maneka's family background provided connections in Punjab's administrative and political spheres, but no verified records indicate Bushra Bibi's direct involvement in those networks prior to her later public profile.[17]Divorce from Khawar Maneka
Bushra Bibi's marriage to Khawar Farid Maneka, which lasted approximately 28 years, ended in divorce in November 2017.[24][25] Maneka, who initiated the divorce through talaq, stated that he pronounced it verbally earlier in April 2017 but formalized it in writing on November 14, 2017, sending the papers via an intermediary.[26][27][21] Maneka publicly accused Imran Khan of interfering in their marriage, claiming that Khan's influence led to its breakdown and that he was pressured into the divorce.[24][25] He described the process as reluctant, stating he had initially resisted but ultimately issued the talaq deed after personal frustrations.[21] No public court records of the divorce proceedings have been disclosed, as petitions seeking such documentation were dismissed by the Lahore High Court.[28][29] The divorce drew scrutiny primarily in relation to subsequent events, though its validity under Pakistani family law—governed by the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance requiring written notice and arbitration—was not formally challenged in available proceedings.[30] Maneka's statements, given amid ongoing legal disputes, emphasized the abrupt end to a long-term union but provided no evidence of procedural irregularities in the talaq itself.[27][26]Marriage to Imran Khan
Bushra Bibi married Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in a private nikah ceremony on January 1, 2018, officiated by Mufti Muhammad Saeed Taunsvi.[31][32] The ceremony occurred amid claims by participants that Bibi had completed her iddat period following her prior divorce, though subsequent testimony from the mufti indicated the union violated Islamic Sharia requirements on the waiting period.[32][33] This marked Khan's third marriage, following divorces from Jemima Goldsmith in 2004 and Reham Khan in 2015.[34] The marriage remained confidential initially, with only a small circle of family and associates present, and Bibi—previously known as Bushra Maneka—transitioning to the honorific "Bibi" post-nikah.[31] On February 18, 2018, PTI spokespersons Zulfi Bukhari and Awn Chaudhry publicly confirmed the union during a press interaction in Lahore, attributing the timing to Khan's electoral preparations ahead of the July 25 general elections.[35][34] Mufti Saeed later testified that a second nikah was conducted in February 2018 at Khan's Bani Gala residence in Islamabad, reportedly to reaffirm the bond publicly.[31][36] A valima reception followed on February 26, 2018, hosted at Bani Gala and attended by PTI leaders and close allies.[37] The union drew immediate scrutiny for its timing and Bibi's reputed spiritual influence on Khan, with some reports citing her prophecy that the marriage would lead to his premiership—a position Khan assumed on August 18, 2018.[38] Despite the private nature, the announcement fueled media speculation and political opposition claims of opportunism, though Khan described it as a personal decision aligned with his faith.[35] Bibi has since resided primarily at Bani Gala, maintaining a low public profile while supporting Khan's political activities.[39]Role as Spiritual Advisor
Influence on Imran Khan's personal and political decisions
Bushra Bibi began exerting influence on Imran Khan as his spiritual advisor in the mid-2010s, prior to their marriage on February 18, 2018, with Khan seeking her counsel on personal challenges rooted in Sufi traditions.[40] This advisory role reportedly prompted Khan to adopt more pious personal habits, such as growing a beard and intensifying prayer routines, aligning with her emphasis on spiritual discipline amid his political struggles.[41] Associates, including introducer Maryam Wattoo, have claimed that meeting Bibi transformed Khan's life, crediting her guidance for his shift toward deeper religiosity.[42] Post-marriage, Bibi's input extended to political decisions during Khan's premiership from August 2018 to April 2022, where close aides alleged she influenced ministerial appointments and high-level personnel choices to favor those aligned with her views.[43] Reports indicate she advised on strategies to pressure state institutions, including the judiciary and military, such as timing public criticisms and rally mobilizations to destabilize opponents.[44] A purported diary attributed to Bibi, seized during a police raid on PTI's Zaman Park residence on August 5, 2023, details her directives on Khan's daily personal regimen—specifying meal times, water intake, and Nafl prayers—alongside political tactics like orchestrating nationwide shutdowns in response to provincial governance threats.[45] While PTI dismisses the diary as fabricated by political rivals, its entries suggest Bibi's role in shaping Khan's responses to crises, including legal defenses and public messaging.[46] Critics, including government officials, have portrayed Bibi's sway as excessive, linking it to Khan's ouster via a no-confidence vote on April 10, 2022, though PTI supporters attribute such narratives to institutional bias against her spiritual authority.[47] Even after Khan's imprisonment in 2023, leaked communications show Bibi relaying his instructions on party operations, underscoring her ongoing proxy influence on decisions like protest escalations.[5] These dynamics highlight a blend of personal devotion and strategic counsel, with empirical accounts from aides and documents indicating causal impact on Khan's risk-averse or confrontational stances, though independent verification remains limited amid partisan contestation.[48]Public perception of spiritual guidance
Bushra Bibi's reputation as a spiritual guide has been sharply divided in Pakistan, with supporters portraying her as a devout Sufi practitioner whose piety influenced Imran Khan positively, while critics dismiss her claims as superstitious or manipulative tactics masked in religious fervor. Admirers, including Khan himself, have described her as a genuine faith healer and spiritual mentor rooted in Sufi traditions, crediting her guidance for his personal transformation and political resolve.[17] [3] This view aligns with her pre-marriage following, where she was respected by a small circle for offering spiritual counsel without public political involvement.[3] Opponents, however, have questioned the authenticity of her spiritual authority, alleging that her influence over Khan stemmed from superstitions rather than orthodox Islamic or Sufi principles, such as purported reliance on omens or dreams to dictate political moves, including the decision to challenge the military establishment in 2022.[49] Reports have circulated of her engaging in practices like taweez (amulets) or predicting outcomes via divine visions, which detractors label as folk mysticism or even witchcraft, fueling public gossip and cartoons depicting her as a sorceress.[50] These perceptions intensified amid allegations that her "spiritual insights" were actually pre-fed intelligence from former ISI chief Faiz Hameed to steer Khan's actions, portraying her guidance as a tool for covert control rather than genuine piety.[51] [52] Her visibility in PTI-led protests since November 2024 has further polarized views, with some seeing her mobilization as an extension of selfless spiritual devotion to Khan's cause, while others interpret it as evidence of overreach by a figure whose veiled persona challenges traditional gender norms in Pakistani politics and undermines claims of apolitical spirituality.[5] [40] Legal convictions, including the 2024 iddat case questioning her Islamic observance during remarriage to Khan, have amplified skepticism among conservative and secular audiences alike, casting doubt on her moral authority as a guide.[3] Despite this, her enduring appeal among PTI loyalists underscores a segment of public belief in her as a bridge between faith and resistance against perceived establishment tyranny.[5]Political Involvement with PTI
Entry into politics via association with Imran Khan
Bushra Bibi's association with Imran Khan, formalized by their marriage on February 18, 2018, marked her initial foray into the political domain, transitioning her from a private spiritual advisor to a figure of indirect influence within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) circles.[1] Prior to the marriage, she had served as Khan's spiritual guide since around 2015, providing counsel on personal and ostensibly political matters, though she held no formal party position.[3] The union, announced publicly in early 2018 amid Khan's election campaign, elevated her visibility as PTI secured victory in the July 25 general elections, with Khan assuming the premiership on August 18, 2018.[1] During Khan's tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, Bibi maintained a reclusive public presence, rarely appearing in official capacities, yet reports emerged of her exerting significant behind-the-scenes sway over governmental decisions. Alleged entries from a personal diary, leaked in 2023, purportedly detail her directives on Khan's daily routine, dietary habits, and strategic political maneuvers, including timing pressures on the judiciary, military, and opposition figures.[53] [44] These claims, drawn from sources close to PTI insiders and leaked documents, suggest her role extended to influencing cabinet appointments and policy directions, such as foreign relations and internal party dynamics, though Khan publicly denied excessive interference.[47] Critics, including political opponents, attributed several administrative missteps and favoritism allegations to her counsel, portraying her as an unelected power broker, while supporters viewed her input as spiritually guided pragmatism.[53] Her political engagement remained informal and advisory, without contesting elections or assuming elected office, distinguishing her involvement from traditional partisan roles. This phase of association laid the groundwork for her later, more overt participation in PTI activities, amid Khan's ouster via a no-confidence vote on April 10, 2022, and subsequent legal battles.[5] Despite the opacity of her influence—often amplified by media speculation from both pro- and anti-PTI outlets—verifiable accounts underscore how the Khan marriage catalyzed her shift from obscurity to a pivotal, albeit shadowy, political adjunct.[54]Leadership in 2024 protests and public messaging
Bushra Bibi emerged as a key figure in directing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strategy during the party's major protests in Islamabad from November 24 to 27, 2024, known as the "Final Call" demonstration, which sought the release of imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan.[1][55] She co-led the march alongside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, overriding internal party reservations by insisting the protesters advance to the high-security D-Chowk area in the capital's political center, rather than a less confrontational site.[1][50] The event drew thousands of supporters who breached police barricades, prompting a government crackdown that dispersed the crowd by November 27.[56][55] In the lead-up to the protests, Bibi issued rare public audio messages to mobilize PTI workers and the broader public, framing the November 24 action as a collective fight for Pakistan's rule of law and sovereignty, distinct from a mere demand for Khan's personal release.[57][58] She linked participation intensity to future PTI ticket allocations, declaring that empty vehicles or low turnout would be unacceptable, and urged recording videos of demonstrations to capture involvement from both party members and ordinary citizens.[59] In one message dated November 21, 2024, Bibi assured state institutions that Khan harbored no intentions of revenge if returned to power, positioning the protests as a duty to restore constitutional order.[60] Following the Islamabad sit-in's dispersal, Bibi and Khan were charged with terrorism offenses on November 28, 2024, for allegedly inciting violence, though PTI leaders described the charges as politically motivated retaliation.[55] Imran Khan later confirmed via party channels on December 3, 2024, that Bibi's leadership in the protests adhered strictly to his instructions from prison, underscoring her role as an extension of his directives amid PTI's organizational constraints.[61] Her public interventions marked a shift from her prior low-profile spiritual advisory position, drawing criticism from some PTI factions for escalating confrontations with authorities.[5][50]Legal Cases and Convictions
Iddat case details and timeline
The Iddat case centered on allegations that Bushra Bibi contracted marriage with Imran Khan during her mandatory iddat waiting period following her divorce from Khawar Maneka, in violation of Section 496 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which criminalizes such unions as punishable by up to seven years' imprisonment or a fine or both.[2] Under Islamic law as applied in Pakistan, iddat for a divorced woman observing three menstrual cycles typically lasts about three months to confirm non-pregnancy and allow for reconciliation.[62] Khawar Maneka, Bibi's former husband, filed the complaint asserting the marriage was invalid and un-Islamic, claiming it occurred prematurely after her divorce.[63] Key events unfolded as follows:- November 14, 2017: Maneka issued triple talaq divorcing Bibi, initiating her iddat period.[63][27]
- January 1, 2018: Private nikah between Bibi and Khan solemnized by Mufti Muhammad Saeed in Lahore, allegedly within the iddat window, based on assurances from Bibi that it had concluded; a public ceremony followed on February 18, 2018.[32][64]
- November 2023: Maneka lodged the formal complaint in Islamabad, over five years after the marriage, prompting registration of an FIR under relevant penal sections for fraudulent or premature nikah.[2]
- January 16, 2024: Trial court in Islamabad indicted Khan and Bibi on charges of violating iddat provisions.[65]
- February 3, 2024: Additional District and Sessions Judge Shoaib Akram convicted both, sentencing them to seven years' rigorous imprisonment each and a fine of Rs 500,000, ruling the nikah fraudulent due to incomplete iddat observance; the verdict came five days before national elections.[62]
- July 13, 2024: Islamabad District and Sessions Court, on appeal, acquitted Khan and Bibi, overturning the trial court's decision after finding insufficient evidence of iddat violation and noting the nikah registrar's testimony aligned with a completed waiting period; the ruling declared them innocent, though Bibi remained detained on unrelated charges.[66][67]
