Prior to her marriage to PTI founder Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi had a devoted following as a faith leader and spiritual adviser, with Khan proudly claiming he “did not catch a glimpse” of her face until after their marriage. He also claimed he was attracted to Bushra due to her intellect and character and considered a true partner. Unfortunately, their major attracted controversy almost from its outset, eventually resulting in the controversial iddat case filed by her ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, that saw both Khan and Bushra sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment each. Appeals against the case are currently pending before an Islamabad court, with observers expecting a positive response for both—at worst after the case reaches the Islamabad High Court.
Bushra’s piety reflects the spiritual change Khan himself underwent after retiring from cricket, when he was globally regarded as a playboy. The PTI founder’s “rebranding” started in 1995, when the 43-year-old wed 21-year British heiress Jemima Goldsmith. The marriage lasted nine years and produced two sons, but fell apart due to irreconcilable differences. After a gap of more than a decade, Khan wed for a second time, this time to journalist Reham Khan, with the marriage lasting less than a year. A few years later, Khan and Bushra Bibi wed in a low-profile ceremony in 2018.
The sudden announcement of the marriage attracted much commentary, with some claiming Bushra had dreamt that Khan would become prime minister after they wed. Whether this is true or not, there is no denying that Khan was elected to the Prime Minister’s Office just six months later. Unfortunately, Khan’s tenure heralded the country’s current economic turmoil and the launch of the “hybrid” governance model that has subsequently become entrenched in the country. Under Bushra’s guidance, Khan sought to paper over all concerns by appealing to Islamic values and propagating an anti-West worldview. This, predictably, proved insufficient after he fell out with the establishment, eventually leading to his ouster through a vote of no-confidence. Both Bushra and Khan are currently imprisoned—though indicators suggest she might soon be freed. For Khan, however, release from prison may remain elusive for some time to come.