Islamabad, November 22, 2024-Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed that his wife’s remarks about Saudi Arabia had been “deliberately taken out of context” to stir unnecessary controversy involving the Kingdom.
“Bushra Bibi didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all,” said Imran Khan in a statement shared on his official X handle. The former prime minister, who has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail since August 2023, clarified that his wife’s words were misinterpreted.
Last evening, Bushra Bibi made rare public comments in a video message ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s “do-or-die” protest. She accused Saudi Arabia of being involved in the removal of her husband’s government. According to Bushra Bibi, when Imran Khan visited Madina “barefoot,” then-Army Chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa began receiving calls from Saudi officials. She implied that Saudi Arabia had a role in Imran Khan’s ousting, alleging that the army chief was told, “Who is this person you have brought with you […] we don’t want such personalities,” following which a smear campaign against the couple began.
Bushra Bibi further claimed that the smear campaign labeled Imran Khan as a “Jewish agent,” a statement that triggered strong reactions from government officials, who called it a “suicide attack” on Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia.
Imran Khan, however, rejected the government’s interpretation, emphasizing that his relations with Saudi Arabia were “excellent.” He pointed out that after he was attacked in Wazirabad in November 2022, one of the first calls he received was from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman through the Saudi embassy. He added that the Kingdom had always stood by Pakistan in times of difficulty.
The former premier also highlighted that only two weeks before his government was toppled, Pakistan successfully hosted the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers’ conference in Islamabad, a feat that, according to him, would have been impossible without Saudi Arabia’s support.
Khan reiterated his belief that his government had been toppled through conspiracies orchestrated by former Army Chief General Bajwa, who he claimed obstructed investigations into these matters. “I tried to have these investigated through the Chief Justice and General Tariq Khan, but General Bajwa did not allow that to happen,” he wrote.
The PTI founder stressed that Bushra Bibi had no involvement in politics and was merely delivering his message to the public regarding the upcoming November 24th protest. Khan called the date “the day to break free from slavery” and asserted that Pakistan’s suspension of the rule of law, constitution, and human rights had pushed the nation to protest and sacrifice.
