Barrister Noman Niazi
Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, has increasingly been at the forefront of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) political activities, particularly in organizing the party’s upcoming protest scheduled for November 24. Reports suggest that the Chief Minister House in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has become the central hub for PTI’s political planning, where Bushra Bibi has held multiple meetings with party leadership. Her involvement is not limited to passive support; she has actively issued stern warnings to PTI leaders, threatening them with expulsion from the party if they do not participate in the protest or fail to rally support for it. This aggressive approach has ignited a significant debate about whether PTI, once a staunch critic of dynastic politics, is now slipping into the same pattern it once vehemently opposed.
PTI leadership, however, continues to maintain that Bushra Bibi is not involved in active politics and is merely relaying her husband’s messages. This official stance, though, raises eyebrows given her growing influence within the party. When Bushra Bibi is not only holding meetings but also giving directives to PTI members and issuing threats of expulsion, it stretches the definition of “just passing messages.” Her actions are unequivocally political, regardless of whether she holds an official party position or not. This dynamic mirrors the earlier criticism PTI leveled at Maryam Nawaz for wielding political influence despite not holding a formal position in the PML-N.
Critics argue that Bushra Bibi’s increased role in PTI politics can be seen as an inevitable response to the party’s current leadership crisis. Imran Khan, the party’s founding chairman, remains incarcerated, and many within PTI believe that the party leadership is not doing enough to secure his release. In this context, Bushra Bibi may feel compelled to step in and fill the void left by the absence of her husband. Her involvement has drawn comparisons to Kulsoom Nawaz, the late wife of Nawaz Sharif, who took a similarly active role in the PML-N after her husband was exiled following General Pervez Musharraf’s coup. Both women became prominent figures in their respective parties when the need for a trusted leader was crucial, and party members turned to the family for direction.
At the core of this issue is a growing trust deficit between the current PTI leadership and the party’s grassroots supporters. Many party workers, despite their loyalty to Imran Khan, have expressed skepticism about the actions and motives of the new leadership, particularly those who have joined PTI in the last couple of years. These workers often view Khan’s family members, especially his wife and sisters, as more trustworthy messengers of his true intentions. There are widespread concerns that PTI’s current leadership is not delivering Khan’s exact message, or worse, is misrepresenting it. This growing mistrust has fueled calls for family members to take charge, with Bushra Bibi stepping into the spotlight as the de facto leader in her husband’s absence.
This trust deficit, compounded by a leadership vacuum, is a central issue for PTI in its current state. The party’s older, trusted leaders are either in hiding or behind bars, leaving behind a new, less experienced leadership that is struggling to fill the void. The situation is particularly dire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where accusations of playing both sides have dogged some members of the provincial government. This lack of clear, decisive leadership has left PTI directionless for much of the past year, and despite doing better than expected in the February 8 elections, the party has failed to present a coherent strategy for the future. When calls for protests are made, the leadership has not shown the necessary resolve or visibility, which has only added to the confusion and frustration among party supporters.
In this context, Bushra Bibi’s increasingly prominent role can be interpreted as an attempt to restore a semblance of unity and leadership within PTI. Her recent warning to party members about the November 24 protest, calling it the “final call,” signals the gravity of the situation. It is clear that the party’s survival may hinge on rallying its base for this protest, but whether Bushra Bibi’s directive will be effective remains to be seen. Observers, however, are skeptical of her combative tone, arguing that a more diplomatic, politically astute approach may yield better results. The use of threats to rally support, they argue, could backfire, especially when the leadership’s credibility is already in question.
Bushra Bibi’s increasing political influence is not just a matter of her acting on behalf of her husband, but rather a sign of the party’s deeper structural issues. As PTI has increasingly relied on its leadership’s familial ties to maintain cohesion, it risks slipping into the very dynastic politics it once criticized. While Imran Khan’s supporters may justify his family’s involvement as a necessary step in a time of crisis, it is hard to ignore the parallels between PTI’s current trajectory and the dynastic politics of parties like the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Both parties have long been criticized for fostering dynastic politics, where family members continue to hold power even in the absence of elected leadership. By allowing Bushra Bibi to assume a more active role, PTI may be sowing the seeds for its own dynastic future, contradicting its foundational principles.
This development also raises important questions about the future of PTI and its ability to survive without its charismatic leader, Imran Khan. The party’s reliance on family members to fill the leadership void suggests that PTI is struggling to develop a second tier of leadership capable of independently carrying the party’s vision forward. This challenge is not unique to PTI; many political parties in Pakistan have struggled with leadership transitions, often leaning on family members when the primary leader is incapacitated or imprisoned. However, PTI’s claim to be different from traditional parties is undermined by its increasing reliance on family to steer the party through turbulent times.
As the November 24 protest approaches, it will be crucial to see how PTI fares in terms of rallying support and demonstrating the effectiveness of its leadership. While Bushra Bibi’s call for participation has rallied some support, many PTI leaders are unhappy with the timing and the approach. There is a palpable fear of government retaliation and crackdowns, which may dampen enthusiasm for the protest. If the protest fails to materialize in the way the party hopes, it could signal a further decline in PTI’s fortunes, and a failure to regain momentum may further erode its credibility.
In conclusion, Bushra Bibi’s growing political role, whether seen as a necessary intervention or as a step towards dynastic politics, reflects the deeper challenges PTI faces in the absence of Imran Khan. The party’s inability to forge a new, independent leadership and its reliance on family members to lead may ultimately compromise its long-term viability. The outcome of the November 24 protest will be a crucial test for PTI, determining whether it can overcome its leadership crisis or whether it will continue to falter in the face of internal division and external pressures. The party’s future direction may well hinge on how it navigates the complex dynamics of leadership, loyalty, and family influence.
