New purported audio of Bushra Bibi emerges

Former first lady can allegedly be heard scolding Bani Gala staff for photographing Toshakhana gifts

ISLAMABAD:

Another audio clip purportedly featuring Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, emerged on Friday in which she can allegedly be heard scolding Bani Gala staff for taking photographs of the Toshakhana gifts coming to the former prime minister's residence.

In the audio clip being widely shared on social media, the former first lady can allegedly be heard scolding a person named Inam for taking pictures of items coming into Bani Gala.

According to media reports, Inam was the administrator of the Bani Gala, Imran Khan's residence in Islamabad. The former first lady can purportedly be heard scolding Inam for taking pictures of "things coming into the house" in the nearly two-minute-long audio.

“The things that came from the Toshakhana, did you ask Akbar to take photos and send them to you?”

“No, I didn’t say so,” Inam replies.

“So why were the photographs taken? Photos of things coming into the house aren’t taken, only of those going out of the house should be taken […] why are photos being taken of the things coming to me,” Bushra Bibi scolds the man.

When Inam denies telling anyone to take photos, Bushra Bibi says that she was told he asked to take the photos. At this point, she can be heard asking another person on the other side of the room if he sent the pictures to Inam.

“Did you send the pictures to Inam?”

Inam interjects and says that he did receive the photos but he never said to take the photos in the first place.

“Did Inam ask you to take the pictures? What? What? Who said to take the pictures? Who? Why? Who, what proof? Photos of things coming inside the house shouldn’t be taken because they were coming to me. Photos should be taken of the things going outside,” Bushra Bibi purportedly tells the other person.

“Who takes photos of things coming inside the house? Proof of what? […] Did you ask me? Did you ask me? What do you mean by sorry? You guys have made a mockery of this house,” she says as she admonishes the other person. “The MS has trusted us. He didn’t take pictures, then who are you to do so?”

Turning back to Inam, Bushra Bibi then says, “And why did he send the pictures to you?”

“Bibi, I don’t know […] I was told these things have come and we’re sending them inside. I said give it to Bibi, she’ll deal with it,” Inam replies.

“What is the point of this?” she then asks. “You will not come inside the house from now onwards. Do you understand?” she tells Inam.

Addressing a news conference earlier in the day, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Interior and Legal Affairs Atta Tarar provided details related to the gifts conferred upon the former first lady by the heads of states of friendly countries. He said that the gifts were reportedly retained and bought back from the Toshakhana in very meagre amounts.

Tarrar said that Imran Khan indulged in corrupt practices by selling the Toshakhana gifts, adding that as per the rules of the cabinet one can keep gifts above Rs30,000 but cannot sell them.

Tarrar said that a company gifted a diamond set to the former first lady worth Rs3.3 billion, while only Rs9 million were deposited in the treasury.

"In exchange for a gold set worth Rs1.5 billion for the first lady, only Rs2.9 million were deposited," he said. He added that a set of bangles and two bracelets were also gifted to the first lady.

Tarar alleged that Imran, under his so-called notion of “my watch, my will”, had committed embezzlement, corruption, and fraud of Rs5 to 6 billion in buying these gifts through a self-orchestrated scheme.

The SAPM said that these were not the only presents given to the former first lady, but that there was a long list of gifts being bought dubiously.

“Imran Khan is a ruthless and double-faced plunderer who has been caught red-handed. An inquiry is underway, after which proper legal action — as per the law, based on impartiality, and sans any political victimisation —will be initiated against the accused,” he said.