“Only the party chairman or secretary general can express PTI’s official position,” says Barrister Saif
Barrister Saif: Bushra Has No PTI Role, Saudi Allegations Are Her Personal Opinion
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has disassociated itself from Bushra Bibi’s recent claims accusing Saudi Arabia of involvement in the removal of her husband, former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The party emphasized that her remarks reflect her personal views and not the official stance of PTI.
Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations, clarified in a statement to Geo News that Bushra Bibi holds no formal position or responsibilities within PTI’s organizational structure.
“Only the party chairman or secretary general is authorized to represent PTI’s official position,” Saif stated. He dismissed any connection between Bushra Bibi’s comments and PTI’s policies, reiterating that her statement was issued independently of the party.
He added, “Bushra Bibi’s perspective is her own. It is up to her to clarify whether her remarks were personal or intended as a party statement.” Saif further confirmed that PTI has never accused Saudi Arabia of involvement in Khan’s removal.
In a rare video message shared via PTI’s official X account, Bushra Bibi alleged that Saudi officials had expressed dissatisfaction with Imran Khan’s 2022 visit to Madina. According to her, then-army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa received calls from Saudi officials questioning Khan’s presence, reportedly saying, “We don’t want such personalities.”
She claimed that this incident led to a smear campaign branding Khan as a “Jewish agent” and contributed to his eventual ouster. In the same video, she urged PTI supporters to participate in the November 24 protest in Islamabad, assuring that it would remain peaceful and adhere to constitutional guidelines.
Bushra’s remarks have sparked criticism from government officials and other figures, who warned of the potential harm to Pakistan-Saudi relations.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar condemned her comments, pointing out the irony of accusing Saudi Arabia while organizing her daughter’s wedding in the same country. He also referred to the Toshakhana case, alleging that Saudi gifts were sold in the black market.
Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council and a member of Imran Khan’s delegation to Saudi Arabia, refuted the claims. Ashrafi described Saudi Arabia’s reception of Khan as exceptionally generous and dismissed the allegations as baseless propaganda.
Senior journalist Ansar Abbasi reported that sources close to General (retd) Bajwa have denied Bushra’s claims, stating that no calls were received from Saudi officials following the Madina visit. Abbasi highlighted that these sources described her accusations as unfounded.
