Mystic Wife’ Of Pakistan’s Ousted PM Imran Khan

The ousted Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan continues to garner headlines. The cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has brought whirlwind in Pakistan. He is currently facing corruption, however he has continuously denied them, while terming it the handiwork of his opponents—who he calls corrupt.  

Alongside Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Khan, is also facing corruption charges in Al-Qadir Trust Case, the same case that led to his arrest on May 9. 
Bushra Khan was seen accompanying her husband to a court that granted her protective bail this week.

Who is Bushra Khan?

Bushra Khan is known for her spirituality.

She is reportedly devoted to Sufism, a mystical form of Islam. Imran Khan, 70, usually refers to his wife Bushra as his spiritual leader.

According to Reuters, she was born as Bushra Riaz Watto. The report says it was after her marriage with Imran Khan, she changed her name to Khan.

She is commonly referred as Bushra Bibi or Bushra Begum, titles that in Urdu denote respect.

She has maintained low profile since her marriage to Imran Khan.

Bushra, who is in her late 40s, hails from a family of landowners in Punjab, Reuters report says.

Reportedly, her first marriage, lasted about 30 years. She was earlier married to Khawar Farid Maneka, a customs officer from a politically influential Punjab family. 

After their divorce in 2018 he was quoted by Pakistani media as saying: “I want to clearly state about my former wife, Bushra Bibi, that I have not seen a woman as pious as her in the world”, Reuters report said.

She has five children from her earlier marriage.

Bushra is a devotee of Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar, or Baba Farid, a revered Muslim mystic and Sufi saint whose shrine is located in Maneka’s hometown of Pakpattan in Punjab.

Pakistanis who admire Bushra’s devotion to the saint call her a spiritual leader while Imran Khan’s opponents accuse her of practicing sorcery, a claim Khan’s aides have repeatedly denied.

Khan and Bushra married in 2018, seven months before he was elected prime minister, in a secret ceremony. 

Bushra Khan is always seen wearing veil in public.