Former Army Chief General (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa has categorically denied claims by Bushra Bibi, Imran Khan’s wife, about Pakistan’s diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, labelling her allegations as untrue.
General Bajwa refuted these allegations, highlighting Pakistan’s longstanding and positive relationship with Saudi Arabia.
He noted that during her visits to Saudi Arabia, including significant religious sites, Bushra Bibi was treated highly and received many gifts. “How could such a friendly country criticize us?” he questioned.
General Bajwa revealed that both Imran and Bushra Bibi had made multiple trips to Saudi Arabia, with his participation during a 2021 visit. He dismissed the idea that Saudi Arabia would object to Pakistan’s Sharia practices, mentioning that Saudi Arabia had extended substantial financial support to Pakistan.
Bajwa expressed confusion over Bushra Bibi’s statements, suggesting they might influence Imran Khan’s future narrative.
He assured that Pakistan’s relationship with Saudi Arabia remains robust, referencing a brief diplomatic concern caused by a statement from former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Despite this, Saudi Arabia supported Pakistan’s hosting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference in Islamabad in March 2022.
“Would they have hosted the OIC conference here if they were upset with us?” Bajwa questioned, recalling a warm reception from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Imran Khan in Jeddah.
Disputing Bushra Bibi’s claim that she faced criticism for her husband’s actions in Medina, Bajwa called such accusations baseless. “How can relations sour when the Saudi Crown Prince personally welcomed us?” he argued.
In her video statement, Bushra Bibi alleged receiving backlash after Imran Khan visited Medina, including derogatory calls to General Bajwa about bringing someone supportive of Sharia to power, claims she stated the former army chief should address.
