A special report by the British magazine The Economist has revealed that former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, may have affected not only his personal life but also his approach to governance. According to senior journalist Owen Bennett-Jones, close associates of Khan complained that Bushra Bibi tried to influence key appointments and daily government decisions, giving a “spiritual advisory” tone to decision-making. This spiritual influence is said to have contributed to the failure of Khan’s reform agenda.
The report also states that, according to some observers, certain personnel from sensitive agencies allegedly passed information to Bushra Bibi. She then reportedly presented this information to Imran Khan as insights gained through her “spiritual wisdom.” This practice is said to have emerged after their secret marriage.
According to stories circulating in Pakistani media, former intelligence chief General Faiz Hameed apparently used Bushra Bibi in a subtle but effective way. Information was reportedly sent to her through an officer, who then conveyed it further. When her predictions turned out to be accurate, Imran Khan’s trust in her grew stronger.
Co-author of the report, Bushra Taskeen, told Geo News that much of the information uncovered during their research was surprising. She particularly highlighted Bushra Bibi’s “spiritual insight” and the way she influenced Khan, which ultimately affected the state of the country. Taskeen emphasized that Khan’s failures were administrative, rather than due to the establishment.
Taskeen also referenced Bushra Bibi’s former husband, Khawer Maneka, who reportedly described her as “an evil genius.” She added that if Bushra Bibi truly had spiritual powers, the outcome for Imran Khan, his party PTI, and his government would have been different. Taskeen expressed particular astonishment that the leader of a nuclear country with a population of 250 million allegedly based his daily governance, appointments, and policy decisions on superstition, spiritual guidance, and mysticism.
