LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar criticised the politics of the PTI founder, calling it entirely based on falsehood and hypocrisy.
Speaking to the media on Saturday after attending a defamation case filed by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif against the PTI founder in 2017, Tarar accused the PTI founder of making baseless allegations against the prime minister.
The minister said a recent article by journalist Owen Bennett-Jones in The Economist criticised the PTI founder’s decision-making process. The article suggested that decisions taken during PTI’s tenure were not based on competence, governance or the larger interests of the country. Tarar added that the PTI founder’s wife had played a significant role in influencing government decisions under the guise of spirituality, dictating everything from political appointments to foreign relations. “The wife of the PTI founder influenced decisions and ensured they were implemented,” said Tarar, emphasising that these decisions were driven by superstition rather than expert advice.
Referring again to The Economist article, Tarar remarked that it highlighted how PTI’s leadership failed to consult experts in critical matters, whether related to the economy, domestic policy or national development.
The minister also reflected on PTI’s 2017 sit-ins, during which numerous false allegations were leveled, particularly against PM Shehbaz Sharif. These accusations were repeated in public gatherings, such as the Parade Ground protest, Shaukat Khanum ceremony in Peshawar and at Karachi airport during PTI rallies. According to Tarar, international journals have now exposed that PTI’s decisions were influenced by baseless narratives and personal biases, rather than by sound governance principles.
In his comments, Tarar questioned what kind of “spirituality” was being referenced in The Economist when it suggested that the PTI founder took decisions based on advice from his wife.
Tarar further questioned the PTI government’s track record in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, asking how many major development projects had been initiated during their tenure. He specifically referred to the false claim made by the PTI founder in 2017, where he alleged that PM Shehbaz Sharif had offered him Rs10 billion to withdraw from the Panama Papers case. Tarar emphasised that in court, all these accusations were thoroughly addressed and debunked.
The minister pointed out that the PTI founder’s fabricated allegation had not only harmed the reputation of PM Shehbaz Sharif but also sparked a widespread false propaganda campaign. This propaganda, he said, had been circulated through newspapers and aired repeatedly on television programmes. Tarar also referenced an individual residing abroad, who made false accusations against the Pakistani military and other institutions, which were later proved untrue. According to Tarar, this individual was forced to pay damages and court expenses by London courts.
Turning to security matters, Tarar lauded Pakistan’s military for its successful operation in Wana Cadet College, where 550 students were rescued, averting a tragedy that could have been as catastrophic as the APS Peshawar attack. He also commended the Pakistani Army and security forces for foiling the conspiracy involving Jaffar Express and for their role in capturing facilitators of the suicide bombing at Islamabad’s Judicial Complex. Tarar noted that terrorists were increasingly targeting soft targets because it was difficult for them to strike harder, more secure targets. He reassured the public that by the Grace of Allah, the country’s security was in capable hands.
On a positive note, the minister thanked the Sri Lankan government, its cricket team and the High Commissioner for their collaboration. He praised Pakistan’s cricket team for their strong performance in the recent match against Sri Lanka. Tarar also expressed gratitude to the Zimbabwean cricket team for participating in the triangular series, expressing confidence that Pakistani cricket would continue to thrive and remain a source of national pride. In closing, he assured the public that, with the grace of Allah, both the safety of citizens and the country’s cricketing success would continue.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry accused the former first lady of playing an active political role and “controlling” key decisions during Khan’s tenure. He said that appointments, including those of provincial and senior officials, were influenced through “magical practices”, repeating the claims previously circulated in the media.
Chaudhry referred to what he termed the “Gogi-Pinky nexus”, in a reference to Bushra Bibi and her close friend Farah Shahzadi (better known as Farah Gogi), claiming it was tied to personal gains, including financial irregularities linked to the former prime minister’s family residence and the £190 million settlement case. He went on to say that Bushra Bibi was involved in “controlling decisions in exchange for favours”, calling it a story of widespread corruption.
The Economist report at the centre of the controversy detailed accounts from family members, former household staff and political associates of both Khan and Bushra Bibi.
It recounted 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. The report also referenced claims that intelligence officials channelled information to Khan through her pirs (spiritual advisers), as well as accounts from former cabinet members who said she played an unusually prominent role in government discussions.
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.
In his reaction, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan announced plans for a legal action against the British media report on Bushra Bibi’s political influence during Imran Khan’s tenure as prime minister.
Speaking exclusively to Geo News, the PTI chief called the report by The Economist “provocative and based on lies”, saying the purpose of the report was to defame the PTI founder and his spouse. “Previously, false allegations like those related to ‘Iddat’ were levelled against her, which she was acquitted of,” he added.
His remarks followed widespread debate triggered by The Economist report, revisiting the political influence attributed to Bushra Bibi, her relationship with the PTI founder and the controversies that shaped the former premier’s time in power. The publication recounted how the two developed a close connection through spiritual consultations, the circumstances of Bushra Bibi’s divorce and subsequent marriage to Khan, and longstanding accusations — denied by the PTI — about her involvement in political decision-making, spiritual practices and influence over government appointments. Gohar said that such a “fabricated report” would not break Bushra Bibi. “At a time when she is in jail, we condemn the publication of such articles,” he said, asserting that the allegations against the former first lady would prove false in time.
Separately, PTI’s Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif said that the former first lady was facing a “deliberate and organised campaign” aimed at damaging her reputation. Speaking to journalists in Peshawar, Barrister Saif said that despite “unlawful imprisonment”, she continued to show “remarkable resilience”. The PTI leader alleged that “false accusations” against her were politically motivated and intended to secure an advantage against the former ruling party.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Information Secretary Waqas Akram blasted the ‘agenda-driven’ article in The Economist and demanded an immediate apology or else warned of pursuing all available legal options. He claimed that the content was nothing more than recycled propaganda masquerading as foreign commentary, and described it as a baseless and defamatory assault on the leader of 240 million Pakistanis and on millions of devoted supporters of Imran Khan around the world. Waqas urged, “We reserve the right to initiate legal action against all parties involved, including the writers and The Economist, should they fail to issue an immediate, full, and public apology for this baseless, reckless, and defamatory personal attack on the leader of 240 million Pakistanis and the millions of devoted supporters of Imran Khan worldwide”.
Strongly reacting to the article against PTI founding chairman Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi, he demanded an immediate public apology and warned that, failing this, they would pursue all available legal avenues against all complicit parties to bring them to justice. He said, “We have seen this narrative play out before. Half-truths, innuendo, selective outrage, all packaged and presented as ‘objective analysis’. He insisted that this attempt to misrepresent facts is not intended to inform Pakistan or its people, but to justify political victimisation and distract attention from real crises about human rights violations, economic collapse, constitutional violations and systematically stolen elections.
“What is most striking is the convenient targeting of Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi who have been incarcerated since 2 years and 3 months, while the article remains silent on what has been happening in Pakistan for the last 3 years and 7 months,” he added. He pointed out that there is no mention of human rights violations, rigged elections confirmed even by the Commonwealth observers, hundreds of PTI supporters who have recently been convicted to 10-year sentences in fabricated cases or the systematic political persecution the party has faced.
Waqas stated the writers chose to focus on the personal lives of the country’s most popular and courageous leader -- a man revered by millions of Pakistanis, while ignoring the glaring injustices inflicted on ordinary citizens, party members and the democratic system itself. Al Qadir Trust case, he noted, repeatedly cited in the article, is ongoing and has not been ‘fixed’ as implied despite the fact PTI has consistently sought transparency and judicial resolution.
The party spokesman said that the Constitution itself has been repeatedly tampered with, in fear of Imran Khan, undermining the rule of law.
He posed a question that one must ask the writers why they did not highlight these grave concerns and instead chose to sensationalize the personal life of PTI leader. Furthermore, he revealed that co-writer Bushra Taskeen is a known critic of PTI, demonstrating clear bias against Imran Khan and favoring the PMLN, calling into question the objectivity of this ‘analysis’.
“Imran Khan’s trials are far from open and fair. These are being conducted inside prison, denying him his basic rights, including meetings with family, friends and legal counsel, despite explicit court orders. This systematic denial of due process exposes the politically motivated nature of these proceedings, yet the article conspicuously omits these facts,” he maintained.
Waqas stated that the ‘tyrannical regime subjected the PTI patron-in-chief to solitary confinement and arbitrary detention for approximately 831 days; however, the political dwarfs failed to break him.
