The PTI stated on Saturday that the report of The economistthat circulated widely on social media, was nothing more than recycled propaganda disguised as foreign commentary.
The report covered PTI founder Imran Khan’s marriage to Bushra Bibi and his alleged role and degree of influence in her decision-making during his tenure as prime minister. Imran married Bushra in February 2018.
An official response, issued by the party’s media wing, claimed that co-author Bushra Taskeen was a known critic of the PTI and that the “alleged” analysis published in the report was aimed at justifying political victimization and distracting attention from real crises over human rights violations, economic collapse, constitutional violations and stolen elections.
The party said it had the right to take legal action against all parties involved, including the writers and the publication, if they do not issue an immediate, full and public apology.
“We have seen this narrative before. Half-truths, insinuations, selective outrage, all packaged and presented as ‘objective analysis’. This attempt to misrepresent the facts is not intended to inform Pakistan or its people, but rather to justify political victimization and distract from real crises of human rights violations, economic collapse, constitutional violations and systematically stolen elections,” he said.
“What is most striking is the convenient attack on Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, who have been imprisoned for two years and three months, while the article is silent on what has been happening in Pakistan for the last three years and seven months. There is no mention of the human rights violations, the rigged elections confirmed even by Commonwealth observers, the hundreds of PTI supporters who have recently been sentenced to 10-year sentences in trumped-up cases, or the systematic political persecution that the party has suffered.
“Instead, the writers chose to focus on the personal life of the country’s most popular and courageous leader, a man revered by millions of Pakistanis, ignoring the blatant injustices inflicted on ordinary citizens, party members and the democratic system itself.”
The party further claimed that the Al Qadir Trust case, frequently cited in the article, was ongoing and had not been “fixed” as implied.
“The PTI has constantly sought transparency and judicial resolution. The Constitution itself has been repeatedly manipulated, fearing Imran Khan, undermining the rule of law. Do we have to ask the writers why they did not highlight these serious concerns and instead chose to sensationalize the personal life of the PTI leader? Furthermore, co-writer Bushra Taskeen is a known critic of the PTI, which demonstrates a clear bias against Imran Khan and favors the PML-N, calling into question the objectivity of the PTI. analysis,” the party stated.
“Imran Khan’s own trials are far from open and fair. They are conducted inside prison, denying him his basic rights, including meetings with family, friends and lawyers, despite explicit court orders. This systematic denial of due process exposes the politically motivated nature of these proceedings, but the article conspicuously omits these facts.”
The PTI added that they “reserve the right to take legal action against all parties involved, including the writers and The economistin case they do not issue an immediate, full and public apology for this baseless, reckless and defamatory personal attack against the leader of 240 million Pakistanis and the millions of devoted supporters of Imran Khan around the world.”
“The people of Pakistan know the truth. They realize these attempts to defame their leader and continue to revere Imran Khan for his courage, integrity and steadfast commitment to the nation. His moral leadership and dedication to justice remain a ray of hope for millions, despite the relentless political persecution he and his family have endured,” the response concluded.
