Web Desk (MNN); According to a detailed report by The Economist, the marriage between former prime minister Imran Khan and his spiritual adviser, Bushra Bibi, startled many Pakistanis when it first came to light.
Years later, the relationship remains at the centre of political debate, especially as both husband and wife serve prison sentences and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) attempts to navigate an uncertain future. Observers now believe that Bushra Bibi could play a decisive role in determining whether Imran Khan compromises with the establishment or continues resisting from behind bars.
Imran Khan was introduced to Bushra Bibi through her sister, Maryam. Khan, often troubled by existential questions and religious concerns, was encouraged by Maryam to seek spiritual guidance from Bushra Bibi.
Initially reluctant to speak with men outside her family, Bushra agreed only to a phone call. That conversation turned into long nightly discussions, which eventually grew into personal meetings. Her then-husband, Khawar Manika, initially welcomed Khan’s presence, pleased to host a celebrity known across the world.
However, as the relationship deepened, Manika became increasingly uneasy. He recalled moments when his wife preferred to speak to Khan alone, insisting that they discuss matters privately. On several occasions, he walked in on them, only to be met with silence.
Manika later claimed that Bushra Bibi told Khan she had foreseen his rise to prime ministership if the two married, a claim she strongly denies. By the end of 2017, the marriage between Bushra Bibi and Manika had ended, and on January 1, 2018, she and Imran Khan entered into a quiet nikah. Khan later said he had never seen his bride’s face before the ceremony, suggesting that physical appearances had lost their importance for him.
Once in the prime minister’s office, however, Imran Khan struggled to translate the promises of an Islamic welfare state and millions of new jobs into reality. His relations with influential political actors and the military establishment quickly became tense.
Meanwhile, Bushra Bibi also became a subject of controversy. Several ministers, aides and household employees complained that she wielded too much authority. One cabinet member described her influence as absolute, adding that her presence often complicated the running of government affairs.
Imran Khan’s current challenge is stark: remain steadfast in his criticism of the military and continue serving jail time, or soften his stance to secure an early release and regain political relevance. Some members of the PTI leadership believe that Bushra Bibi, also incarcerated on corruption charges, could persuade Khan to pursue reconciliation for the sake of the party’s future.
The story of how a largely private woman from rural Punjab became one of the most talked-about figures in the country fascinates the public, though much of it is clouded by rumours, conspiracy theories and gendered stereotypes. Those who know the couple offer different explanations. Some argue that Khan’s simplicity and trusting nature allowed Bushra Bibi’s influence to grow disproportionately. Others believe that the complex and opaque structures of Pakistani politics enabled her rise.
Interviews with friends of the couple, political insiders and members of the military establishment offer glimpses into Bushra Bibi’s background. According to her sister Maryam, Bushra’s first marriage was far from ideal, pushing her deeper into Sufi teachings.
As her children grew older, she began visiting the shrine of Baba Farid more frequently and increasingly became known for offering spiritual advice to visitors seeking guidance. Imran Khan, exhausted by political battles and personal anxieties, was among those who turned to her.
Masood Chishti, a longtime friend of Khan, described him as a poor judge of character and easily influenced. Another close friend, Sufi musician Salman Ahmad, said Khan placed unwavering faith in Bushra Bibi’s spiritual aura, which he considered a blind spot in Khan’s otherwise sharp instincts.
Bushra Bibi’s former in-laws, the Manika family, expressed serious concerns about her spiritual practices. One relative even approached PTI heavyweight Jahangir Tareen, claiming she engaged in occult rituals. According to him, she sought supernatural powers to influence people.
PTI officials dismissed such allegations as malicious gossip spread by disgruntled staff members and political opponents. However, former household employees provided detailed accounts. Safeer, Khan’s driver, claimed he was instructed to bring specific quantities of beef, which Bushra Bibi used in rituals involving incantations, before placing the meat on the roof for birds. Another butcher near Bani Gala said he was asked to supply animal heads and sometimes live black goats, which he personally delivered.
Allegations extended beyond rituals. Some close to Khan said he trusted Bushra Bibi to evaluate potential political candidates by reading their photographs. Others described how she influenced major decisions, such as delays in travel plans due to her spiritual readings. Former minister Faisal Vawda recalled hearing that during a meeting between Khan and the then army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Bushra Bibi spoke more than either of them.
The PTI strongly disputes these stories, insisting that Bushra Bibi had no role in official decision-making and that many rumours were invented by rivals. A former PTI spokesperson who attended key meetings insisted that she never participated in state matters.
Another widely circulated story suggests that senior ISI officer General Faiz Hameed used Bushra Bibi as an indirect communication channel. According to this account, intelligence was passed to a pir close to Bushra Bibi, who then relayed it to her, and she, in turn, conveyed it to Khan without realising the source behind the information. Faisal Vawda said this system clouded Khan’s judgment. PTI spokesmen dismissed these claims as fiction worthy of a crime novel.
Some of the most damaging rumours link the dismissal of ISI chief General Asim Munir in 2019 to alleged corruption involving Bushra Bibi. While the media widely speculated that the general had presented incriminating evidence against her, Khan has repeatedly denied the allegations, accusing Munir of pursuing a campaign against his wife after losing his position.
Within PTI, opinions remain divided. Khan’s sister Aleema and several senior advisers reportedly urge him not to accept any deal with the military, arguing that compromising now would betray his political principles. Others believe Bushra Bibi favours negotiation, seeing it as the only pragmatic route to restoring PTI’s political influence.
For many ordinary citizens who still view Imran Khan as a transformative figure capable of rescuing Pakistan from entrenched power structures, the question of whether he will bend or hold firm is critical. From his prison cell, Khan recently acknowledged Bushra Bibi’s enduring role in his life, saying her resolve had strengthened him rather than weakened his position.
