Islamabad (Web Desk): A report, recently published by British magazine The Economist, claims that Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, had an extraordinary level of influence over political decisions and the daily workings of his government.
According to the magazine, her entry into Khan’s life coincided with the introduction of practices at his residence that several former aides described as highly unconventional.
Staff members alleged that rituals such as rotating raw meat over Imran Khan’s head, burning red chilies, and discarding the heads of black goats or chickens in a graveyard became routine. A butcher cited in the report said that live black goats were occasionally ordered specifically for these rituals.
Bushra Bibi’s influence quickly became a matter of political discussion after Imran Khan assumed office in 2018.
People familiar with the inner workings of his government told The Economist that she played a part in shaping key appointments, day-to-day choices, and even the prime minister’s foreign and domestic travel plans.
According to them, her spiritual guidance often outweighed institutional advice, which they believe contributed to Khan’s inability to push through major reforms.
The report also says that criticism of Bushra Bibi inside PTI was quietly discouraged and could even cost party members their positions.
One example highlighted was the removal of Aun Chaudhry, who was sidelined after displeasing her.
Household staff said that before taking significant political or administrative decisions, Imran Khan frequently sought her viewpoint.
The Economist further reported that Pakistan’s intelligence agency began monitoring her after her secret marriage to Imran Khan. Officials allegedly passed selective information to her through intermediaries, which she then relayed to Khan as spiritual revelations, further deepening his trust in her counsel.
Her growing influence, the article notes, strained Khan’s relations with the military leadership, including then-Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Senior government figures believed that her input played a role in the dismissal of ISI Director-General Lt Gen Asim Munir in 2019.
After Imran Khan’s ouster in 2022, both he and Bushra Bibi became embroiled in legal cases and are currently in custody.
Despite the controversies, some within PTI still think she might help bridge the gap between Khan and the military establishment, although strong voices in the party—such as Khan’s sister Aleema—are said to oppose any such compromise.
The magazine argues that her behind-the-scenes role remained a defining feature of Imran Khan’s years in power.
The report also revisits how Imran Khan’s relationship with Bushra Bibi began. Their first connection came through her sister, Maryam, and at the outset, Bushra Bibi avoided direct interactions since she did not meet unrelated men.
Their exchanges eventually moved from lengthy phone conversations to private meetings, setting the stage for her eventual marriage to Khan and the far-reaching influence she later held.