British news and current affairs journal The Economist has narrated “a story circulating in Pakistan” to claim how former first lady Bushra Bibi relayed information from intelligence sources to Imran Khan, presenting them as “revelations about the future”.

 

In an article titled ‘The mystic, the cricketer and the spy: Pakistan’s game of thrones’ on Khan’s marriage to his spiritual adviser, The Economist quoted “rumours” to revisit the political influence attributed to Bushra, her relationship with her husband, and the controversies that shaped the former premier’s time in power. 

 

It said that intelligence officers conveyed tips to one of Bushra’s pirs, who would relay them to her, and she would then share the same with Khan.

 

“According to the rumours, the officer would, for example, give one of Bushra Bibi’s pirs advance notice about which politician was about to be arrested. Bushra Bibi would then tell Khan that she had received a revelation about the future. When the event she predicted came to pass, Khan would be amazed at his wife’s perspicacity and conclude she did indeed have a direct line to God,” The Economist stated.

 

While it added that “man rumours in Pakistan turn out not to be true, and much about this story remains opaque”, it quoted a senior Pakistani intelligence officer, speaking off the record, describing the broad outlines of the influence operation to 1843.

 

“People close to Khan are convinced it happened,” The Economist said, also quoting former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and federal minister Faisal Vawda, who said this was how Khan started to get blinded.

 

“It’s unclear from these accounts whether Bushra Bibi would have known she was being used in this way — it’s quite possible that she didn’t,” the publication wrote.

 

It also detailed accounts from family members and former household staff, recounting claims by her former husband about concerns over her closeness to Khan, the couple’s eventual marriage in 2018, and allegations — denied by PTI — that she engaged in black magic and exercised significant influence over political and personal decisions.

 

With both Khan and Bushra Bibi in prison on corruption charges, speculation continues within the PTI ranks about her potential influence on the former's decisions regarding possible political compromise. The Economist report noted that opinions within the party vary, with some senior figures urging Khan to stand firm while others believe Bushra Bibi may encourage a negotiated path forward.