- By Shivangi Sharma
- Wed, 19 Nov 2025 04:19 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan has threatened to sue The Economist, accusing the UK publication of defamation over a recent article focusing on his third wife, Bushra Bibi, and her alleged influence during his tenure from 2018 to 2022.
The November 14 edition of The Economist featured a long-form report titled “The Mystic, the Cricketer and the Spy: Pakistan’s Game of Thrones”, written by Owen Bennett-Jones and Bushra Taskeen. The article claims that Bibi, who also served as Khan’s spiritual adviser, wielded extraordinary personal and mystical influence over him and key government decisions. According to the piece, intelligence officers allegedly passed her information, which she relayed to Khan as “spiritual intuition.”
The article portrayed the Khan-Bushra relationship as a mix of power and spirituality that may have influenced the trajectory of Pakistani politics.
Allegations Of Spiritual Influence On Governance
Bushra Bibi, along with Khan, was convicted and sentenced to jail in a corruption case, making the article’s claims particularly sensitive. The report suggested that she influenced government appointments and daily administrative decisions, creating an atmosphere of “spiritual consultation” in the prime minister’s office.
PTI Rejects Article As Propaganda
PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan condemned the article, calling it “intentionally harmful and filled with falsehoods.” He added, “Such tactics cannot break Bushra Bibi, and at a time when she is in jail, the publication of such an article is strongly condemned. This is a sponsored piece, and the party will take legal action.” He also noted that despite previous conspiracies targeting the former PM and his wife, their international standing has steadily improved.
PTI formally described the report as “recycled propaganda masquerading as foreign analysis,” accusing The Economist of relying on half-truths, innuendo, and biased narratives. The party also questioned the neutrality of co-author Bushra Taskeen, citing her history of criticising Khan’s party.
Controversy Over Al-Qadir Trust Case
The Economist referenced the Al-Qadir Trust case, involving allegations of corruption and kickbacks linked to government contracts during Khan’s tenure. PTI countered that the matter is an ongoing legal case, disputing any claims of pre-determined guilt implied by the article.
PTI demanded an immediate, full, and public apology and warned it “reserves the right to initiate legal action” in the UK if the publication fails to retract the claims.