Bushra Khan, the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, is facing corruption charges in the same case that led to his arrest on May 9. On Monday, he accompanied her to a court that granted her protective bail.
She is known for her spirituality and devotion to Sufism, a mystical form of Islam. Imran, 70, has often called Bushra his spiritual leader.
Born Bushra Riaz Watto, she changed her name to Khan after her marriage. Her husband and followers commonly refer to her as Bushra Bibi or Bushra Begum, titles that denote respect.
She has kept a low profile since her marriage to Imran.
Early life
Bushra, in her late 40s, hails from a family of landowners in Punjab. Little is known about her early life.
Her first marriage, which lasted about 30 years, was to Khawar Farid Maneka, a customs officer from a politically influential Punjab family.
After their divorce in 2018, he was quoted by local media as saying: "I want to clearly state about my former wife, Bushra Bibi, that I have not seen a woman as pious as her in the world".
Bushra and Maneka have five children.
Mystic, secret marriage
Both Bushra and ex-husband Maneka are devotees of Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar, or Baba Farid, a revered mystic and Sufi saint whose shrine is located in Maneka's hometown of Pakpattan in Punjab.
Pakistanis who admire Bushra's devotion to the saint call her a spiritual leader while Imran's opponents accuse her of practicing sorcery, a claim Imran's aides have repeatedly denied. In a rare interview, Bushra, told a local news network in 2018 that "people would come to see me to get closer to God and the Prophet (PBUH)".
It was not clear when or how Imran met Bushra, but former aide Aun Chaudhry said Imran was very impressed with her spirituality.
The former premier, who had acquired a playboy image in the 1990s as his cricket career took off, has previously said he was keenly interested in Sufism.
Imran and Bushra married in 2018, seven months before he was elected prime minister, in a secret ceremony. The marriage was Imran's third after Jemima Goldsmith, daughter of business tycoon James Goldsmith, and TV journalist Reham Nayyar Khan. Both marriages ended in divorce.
Spiritual journey
A few months before Imran was elected prime minister, local media carried photos of the couple prostrating at the Baba Farid shrine. In the interview, Bushra said: "Every moment of Khan sahib's life is now dedicated to God, the Prophet (PBUH) and the love for Baba Farid".
Bushra, who is always seen in public wearing a veil and a burqa that shows only her eyes, did not accompany her husband on any official overseas trips during his time in office except for visits to Saudi Arabia, where they were filmed at the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Al-Qadir Trust
Members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have said Bushra inspired him to set up Al-Qadir Trust, a non-governmental welfare organisation that runs a university outside Islamabad devoted to spirituality and Islamic teachings.
The trust is part of the corruption charges levied against the couple. While prime minister, Imran promoted the trust at official events, and the couple are the sole trustees, according to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.
PTI spokesman Farrukh Habib told Reuters the case was politically motivated and that the couple draw no financial benefit from the trust.
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