The sister of the former first lady, Maryam Riaz Wattoo, has disclosed that former prime minister Imran Khan once expressed his gratitude to her for introducing him to his third wife — Maryam’s younger sister Bushra Bibi — and for fundamentally changing his life, steering it in a new direction.
Bushra is currently serving a jail sentence, and her husband, Khan, is also incarcerated in the same prison.
In an interview conducted in Dubai, Maryam confirmed her role in introducing Khan to Bushra in 2015 for spiritual guidance.
She recounted to Geo News: “Imran Khan emailed me and said, ‘I am thankful to you that you changed my life’. I still have that email in my possession.”
Maryam’s acquaintance with Khan predates this, stemming from her active involvement as a dedicated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker based in Dubai. She had met Khan at various party events and maintained regular communication with him during her tenure as the advisor for PTI overseas chapters in the MENA region.
Her commitment to the PTI was such that she undertook special trips from Dubai to Islamabad to participate in the 2014 dharna (sit-in protest). Describing herself as a patriot, she emphasizes that her work with PTI has always been driven by the desire for Pakistan’s progress.
It is understood that Bushra’s introduction to Khan occurred around mid-2015, and the subsequent events are now well-known.
Maryam, a respected figure in education and a data scientist, is known for her forthright views, which have reportedly caused concern among PTI leadership regarding her social media activity.
However, she remains resolute, stating that her primary focus is to defend her sister and her brother-in-law in any way she deems appropriate.
She believes that the party’s failure to make strategic decisions could impede the release of Khan, Bushra, and numerous other political prisoners.
Maryam gained significant attention when she alleged that her sister was being poisoned while in jail. She stated: “I am certain that she was being poisoned, and she did not receive medical attention for eight weeks after becoming severely ill due to the poisoning.”
“After eight weeks, when tests were finally permitted, the video of the endoscopy was withheld from the family despite repeated requests through both family members and lawyers. Instead, claims were made that Bushra Imran was not poisoned.”
She questioned: “If she was not poisoned, why was the endoscopy video not shared?”
Maryam caused a stir last year in November when Bushra led a march on Islamabad advocating for her husband’s release, a march that was ultimately forced to retreat amidst a heavy crackdown. This event led to several within the PTI criticizing the party’s leadership for the resulting debacle.
She openly criticized the KP leadership, telling this reporter: “Bushra Imran Khan did not leave the venue of her own accord. She was forcibly removed. Chemicals were thrown at the car; live bullets were fired upon her, yet she refused to leave. She is not in the media, so I felt compelled to share her side of the story. Peaceful protesters were fired upon.”
Maryam stated that Bushra was unaware of her destination when she was taken in Ali Amin Gandapur’s vehicle. “For two days, she had no phone. She was unaware of any press conference taking place or any planned press talk. The family was denied contact with her for two days.”
When the two sisters finally spoke, Bushra informed Maryam that she was aware of what had transpired and who had conspired and let her down. “She told me she would relay everything to Imran Khan, and she did.”
Khan has unequivocally supported Bushra, stating that she acted on his instructions and in his best interests — for his release.
Regarding the prevalent speculation about Bushra Bibi’s significant influence over Khan and his referring to her as “my murshid” (spiritual guide), Maryam dismissed the talk of black magic, goat sacrifices, blood rituals, and spooky stories as “nonsense.”
She asserted: “My sister does not believe in such things. Imran Khan calls her his murshid because Bushra Imran Khan is deeply religious. She possesses extensive knowledge of the Holy Quran, Hadiths, and Islamic history.”
“It is due to her profound knowledge that Imran Khan refers to her as ‘murshid’ and seeks her counsel in religious matters. She is a highly intelligent, kind-hearted individual who empathizes with others.”
“When Khan was the prime minister, she was rarely seen at public events; her appearances were mostly at old age homes and orphanages. She dedicates a significant amount of her time to Ibaadat (worship), yet some people have associated witchcraft with her. This is utterly disgusting.”
Maryam remains steadfast in her resolve. “I will defend my sister and my brother-in-law in every possible way. This is about family. There is no political agenda here.”
