Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi said on Friday that troubles for the country's now jailed former prime minister started after he visited Saudi Arabia, remarks that triggered a row as she appeared to criticize a friendly country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa slammed Bushra Bibi over her video clip posted on X.
Bushra Bibi, in a video statement on Thursday, said Khan's problems began when he visited Medina and was seen coming out of his plane without shoes.
She claimed that soon after the incident, then army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa received calls. "Soon after Khan's return, Bajwa started getting calls 'Ye tum kya utha key laa aaye ho (whom have you brought)? We are ending the Sharia system in this country and you have brought promoters of Sharia'," she said referring to Khan's September 2018 visit."
It was supposed to motivate the supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to join in the protest on Sunday in Islamabad but ended up stirring up controversy due to an oblique mention made towards Saudi Arabia's alleged role in ousting him from power.
Two of Pakistan's biggest buddies in its time of economic crises have been Saudi Arabia and China.
Though, in the 9:27-minute video available on PTI's official X handle as well, Bushra Biwi did not mention any country.
72-year-old Khan has faced charges in dozens of cases since his government was ousted through a no-confidence vote in 2022. He has been lodged in Adiala Jail at Rawalpindi since last year.
Sharif said that the recent statements against Saudi Arabia were dreadfully antagonistic and damaging for Pakistan.
Speaking at a function, Sharif warned the propaganda against Saudi Arabia was against national interest.
"I will, unfortunately, have to mention some events here because … a statement has come out yesterday, which I think there can be no greater enmity against Pakistan than this that you spew venom against the country that has never demanded anything in return and always opened its doors for Pakistan," he said in an apparent reference to Bibi's remarks.
The premier said no one would be allowed to play with the country's interests when it came to brotherly allies like Saudi Arabia, and urged the nation to counter it.
General Bajwa quickly denied Bibi's statement. Speaking to Express News TV, Bajwa termed the statement of Bibi "a pack of lies," asking how a friendly country could interfere with Pakistan's internal affairs.
He pointed out that the OIC Summit (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) was held in Islamabad in March 2022 and questioned if there had been any tension in the ties between both countries, would Saudi Arabia have allowed the summit to take place in Pakistan?
Bajwa said detailing Khan's visit to the Kingdom, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman himself came to receive the former premier in Jeddah. "Shah Mehmood Qureshi and I were present at the dinner during the visit," said Bajwa.
Defence minister Asif Khawaja addressing a press conference condemned the statement of Bushra Biwi and said that Pakistan enjoys close ties with the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has played a critical role in helping Pakistan in the current economic crisis," he said.
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar remarked in response to media queries that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are "close friends and brothers. This relationship is based on mutual respect."
We have great respect for Saudi Arabia's progress and prosperity journey. The Pakistani nation is proud of the excellent relations with Saudi Arabia, which has stood with Pakistan in good as well as bad times," he added.
He said accusing Saudi Arabia for petty political point-scoring is "unfortunate" and represents a desperate mindset, adding: "We urge all political forces to desist from compromising Pakistan's foreign policy in pursuance of their political objectives.
Information Minister Atta Tarar said Saudi Arabia has always provided support to Pakistan at difficult times, adding it is condemnable to make irresponsible statements regarding friendly countries.
He termed "false and unwarranted statements" for political gains as a condemnable act.
Information minister has said that PTI leveled allegations earlier against the US for hatching conspiracy and reminded it that it goes against national interest to negatively politicize Pakistan's friendly countries.
Newly reported by Dawn newspaper, claims by the former first lady of an alleged foreign conspiracy in the ouster of her husband's government have surprised some PTI leaders, who are questioning the "controversial statement" issued just days before a protest in Islamabad.
Talking to Dawn, PTI leaders said the party's top leadership was "committing mistakes" at crucial moments and taking the party's months-long momentum back "to square one."
A senior party leader said Khan might have got bail in the remaining May 9 cases, but his wife's controversial remarks might alter that scenario.
A member of the lawyers' wing of PTI termed the claims as a "bombshell." He lamented that the party had become "leaderless and directionless" and "mistakes were being committed at crucial times.".
None of the leaders had the courage and heart to lead the party, he said, adding that Khan and the PTI are toeing one line, while the mid-tier leadership has been rudderless.
In a post on X, PTI activist and singer Salman Ahmad called Bushra Bibi “corrupt and greedy” who, along with her family and friends, was a “constant source of embarrassment” for Khan.
He said it was “disgusting” to say that the former prime minister was removed because he walked barefoot in Medina.
Just last week, Pakistan assured the International Monetary Fund that it still held out hope to get the oil from Saudi Arabia on deferred payments, besides some help from China, to fill the USD 5 billion external funding gap.
Last week, the PTI called for a long march to Islamabad to push for three demands: the release of the party founder under detention, overturning of the alleged "stolen mandate" during the February 8 elections and restoration of the judiciary by annulling the recent 26th amendment to the Constitution that granted legislators more power in appointing top judges.
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