Overview
- The long-form piece by Owen Bennett-Jones reports that Bushra Bibi influenced key appointments, daily governance and even travel timings through spiritual counsel.
- The article cites claims that elements within the ISI funneled information to her or via pirs, with references to former spy chief Faiz Hameed and links drawn to the 2019 removal of Asim Munir.
- Former household staff and insiders describe ritual practices and specific food requests tied to her spiritual guidance, presented as shaping personal and official choices.
- PTI figures, including Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, denounce the report as baseless and threaten action against The Economist, while PML-N leaders amplify the allegations.
- With both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi jailed in corruption cases, the piece notes internal PTI debate over her role and possible influence on the party’s strategy toward the military.