Bushra Bibi’s statement is being misinterpreted, Barrister Saif claims

Barrister Dr. Saif has clarified that the recent controversial statement made by Bushra Bibi regarding Saudi Arabia is being misrepresented in the media.

Addressing the issue, he stated that the statements attributed to Bushra Bibi are being taken out of context to divert attention from ongoing protests.

In his remarks, Barrister Saif emphasised that during the interview, Bushra Bibi did not accuse Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of any wrongdoing.

He also clarified that Bushra Bibi did not claim that General Bajwa had received any call from Saudi Arabia or Mohammed bin Salman to discuss Sharia matters.

He further asserted that the relationship between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan is exemplary and is being undermined by the current "illegitimate" government.

According to Barrister Saif, the government’s animosity towards Imran Khan is negatively affecting Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia.

Barrister Saif accused the government of damaging the interests of overseas Pakistanis working in Saudi Arabia due to its hostility towards Imran Khan.

He stated that the government’s primary concern is to suppress the ongoing protests, and it is willing to go to any extent to divert attention from them.

He appealed to the public not to be misled by the government’s baseless propaganda and urged them to prepare for upcoming protests.

Furthermore, Former Army Chief General (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa has strongly denied recent claims made by Bushra Bibi regarding the country’s relations with Saudi Arabia, calling her statement “100% false.”

In an exclusive conversation with Express News, General (Retd) Javed Bajwa rejected Bushra Bibi’s allegations, emphasising that no country would make such claims, particularly one with whom Pakistan has long-standing friendly ties.

Referring to the relationship with Saudi Arabia, Bajwa clarified that it had never deteriorated, citing a single instance in which ex foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s statement had caused some concerns in Riyadh.

However, the former army chief pointed out that Saudi Arabia continued to support Pakistan’s role on the international stage, particularly highlighting the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference held in Islamabad in March 2022.

"If Saudi Arabia had been upset with us, would they have allowed the OIC conference to take place in Islamabad?" Bajwa asked, also recalling a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who personally greeted Imran Khan upon his arrival in Jeddah.

Refuting Bushra Bibi’s accusations that she was criticised for her husband’s actions in Medina, Bajwa stated, "Such claims are unfounded. How can relations deteriorate when the Saudi Crown Prince himself came to receive us?"

Recently, An accountability court in Islamabad has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Bushra Bibi, wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in connection with the £190 million corruption case.