A series of cases have been registered against Bushra Bibi, wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, following a controversial video statement she made earlier this week.
The cases, filed under the Telegraph Act of 1885 and other provisions, allege that Bushra Bibi attempted to spread religious hatred and mislead the public.
The first case was registered in Dera Ghazi Khan on the complaint of a local citizen, accusing Bushra Bibi of making a provocative statement. According to the FIR, the statement in question aimed at stirring up tensions by misrepresenting political and religious issues.
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Police have invoked Section 126 of the Telegraph Act, which pertains to the transmission of "false or defamatory" content via telegraphs or similar communication channels, along with other relevant laws.
In the controversial video, Bushra Bibi recounted an incident involving former Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. She claimed that when Imran Khan visited Medina barefoot and returned, Bajwa began receiving calls questioning Imran's character, allegedly from influential figures in Saudi Arabia.
Bushra Bibi said that Bajwa was told, "Who is this person you have brought? We don’t want such people." She further stated that this led to accusations against her and her husband, with some alleging that Imran Khan was a "Jewish agent."
Following the release of the video, Bushra Bibi's statements have sparked widespread criticism, leading to additional legal actions. Separate cases were registered in Multan and Rajanpur, accusing Bushra Bibi of attempting to inflame religious sentiments among the public.
These complaints, lodged by local citizens in Qutubpur and Muhammadpur police stations respectively, echo similar accusations of religious incitement.
In response to the controversy, PTI founder Imran Khan has reportedly instructed his wife to stay away from political affairs. Sources within the party suggest that the PTI leadership, concerned about the fallout from the video statement, debated whether to proceed with the planned protest march scheduled for November 24.
After considering the Islamabad High Court's recent decision and the political turmoil caused by the statement, the PTI political committee proposed cancelling the march in favour of engaging in talks with the government.
Despite internal party discussions, a final decision on the matter was deferred after a scheduled meeting with Imran Khan at Adiala Jail failed to take place. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, later convened a meeting in Peshawar to further address the issue of the protest.
However, barrister Saif, an advisor to Gandapur, stated that the political committee was still deliberating on challenging the court’s decision and the ongoing controversy.
