BB’s Remarks
Bushra Bibi, in a video on 21 Nov, said, “When Khan went to Mdina barefoot for the first time, as soon as he returned, General Bajwa immediately started receiving calls asking, ‘What is this? What have you brought here?'”
She added that the callers expressed concerns, saying, “We are trying to abolish Shariah here, and you brought the overseers of Shariah with you. We do not want this.”
Bushra Bibi further stated that she and Imran Khan had been targeted ‘ever since, with filth being lobbed against the wife and Khan being called an agent of the jews (Yahoodis).’
She said “if this was not true General Bajwa and his family could be asked since they had shared these details with some one, which had reached Imran Khan.”
Bushra Bibi then mentioned that ‘later, while in power other government departments also provided reports, they too had told ‘Imran Khan that this was the real story, that Khan is being punished for this, “for your country, for real freedom, for justice and for walking barefoot in Medina, this is what he is being punished for.”‘
October-Pakistan in the World
General Bajwa’s reaction
General (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa has strongly denied claims made by Bushra Bibi regarding the country’s relations with Saudi Arabia, calling her statement “100% false.”
Bajwa rejected allegations, emphasizing that no country would make such claims, particularly one with whom Pakistan has long-standing friendly ties. He explained that during Bushra Bibi’s visits to Saudi Arabia, including those to the holy sites of the Khana-e-Kaaba and the Prophet’s Mosque, she was welcomed with great honour, receiving numerous gifts.
He questioned how any country could criticize the implementation of Sharia, noting that Saudi Arabia had rolled over billions of dollars in financial assistance to Pakistan.
Referring to the relationship with Saudi Arabia, Bajwa clarified that it had never deteriorated, citing a single instance in which ex foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s statement had caused some concerns in Riyadh.
Imran Khan
Imran Khan came to the defence of his wife, claimed that Bushra’s words were “taken out of context” to create unnecessary controversy around Pakistan’s “brotherly” relationship with Saudi Arabia.
In a statement issued via his official X handle on Friday 22 Nov , Khan clarified that Bushra Bibi “didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all.”
Imran Khan recalled that Crown Prince MBS reached out to him after he was wounded in an assassination attempt last November, which took place while he was leading a protest march to Islamabad.
PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said on X, that Bushra Bibi did not directly or indirectly name the leadership or government of Saudi Arabia in her video message. He said that PTI views the relationship with Saudi Arabia with great respect and dignity and wants to expand further on the “brotherly and friendly” relationship.
January 2019 Pakistan in the World
Gov of Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif responded that Bushra Bibi’s comments are dangerous affront to Pakistan’s ties with the Kingdom, and a blow to national interest. He said that spewing venom against a country that stood by Pakistan for decades without demanding anything in return was an unforgivable crime. The PM said the nation would not tolerate any propaganda jeopardising vital Pak-Saudi ties.
Senator Ishaq Dar, on 22 Nov , responded as , “Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are close friends and brothers. This relationship is based on mutual respect. We have great admiration for Saudi Arabia’s journey of development and prosperity. The Pakistani nation is proud of its close relationship with Saudi Arabia which has always stood by Pakistan through thick and thin.
Implicating Saudi Arabia for petty political point scoring is regrettable and indicative of a desperate mindset. We urge all political forces to desist from compromising Pakistan’s foreign policy in pursuance of their political objectives.”
Conclusion
The gov of Saudi Arabia has not issued any statement till this report was filed. But possibly , a strong condemnation may have been conveyed to the gov of Pakistan. Saudi Arabia is already under criticizm in many circles of Pakistan for enlightened moderation the Kingdom is promoting in the country including recently held concert Jennifer Lopez’s performance and the similarity of a stage prop to Islam’s holiest site. In this background , many in Pakistan believe that BB’s remarks are fatal for fraternity but are facts.
Pakistan in the World – November 2024
Imran’s Wife Booked in Multiple Cases on her Venomous Video
