Former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa refuted on Thursday statements made by incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi.

A few hours ago, the former first lady claimed that following Khan’s barefoot visit to Medina, Saudi Arabia as prime minister, phone calls began flooding into the-then army chief General Bajwa, stating that “there were intentions to dismantle the Sharia system and questioning why he had supported someone advocating for it.”

Bibi was heard saying in a video uploaded by Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on its X, erstwhile Twitter, platform.

To seek the former army chief’s response, journalist Mohammad Malick claimed that he contacted him and mentioned the former first lady’s claims.

In response, the former chief stated that no such calls were received upon “Khan’s return from Saudi Arabia” and added that Bibi “is mistaken and that he did not receive any communications” regarding the matter.

Malick spoke about the conversation on his show Khabar which was aired on ARY News on Thursday.

Pakistan Ulema Council chairman Allama Tahir Ashrafi also reacted to Bibi’s claims.

Ashrafi, who was the special representative of the prime minister on religious harmony and the Middle East in PTI tenure, said that Bibi’s accusations against a “friendly country are false.” The PUC chairman claimed that he was present during Khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia where the delegation received “great respect.”

He added that General (retd) Bajwa was also present and “did not receive any calls” regarding the matter. Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are firmly committed to the Palestinian cause and would not waver in their stance, Ashrafi said.

Implicating Saudi Arabia for political point scoring regrettable: Dar

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar lamented that such attempts were made for political point-scoring.

“Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are close friends and brothers. This relationship is based on mutual respect. This relationship is based on mutual respect. We have great admiration for Saudi Arabia’s journey of development and prosperity,” he said in a statement in response to media queries.

Dar, who is also the foreign minister, praised the kingdom for supporting the South Asian country through “thick and thin.”

He said: “Implicating Saudi Arabia for petty political point scoring is regrettable and indicative of a desperate mindset. We urge all political forces to desist from comprising Pakistan’s foreign policy in pursuance of their political objectives.”

Tarar slams Bushra Bibi

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also slammed the former first lady’s comments as “disgraceful”, claiming they were made to create a political narrative. He accused her of damaging Pakistan’s relations with foreign nations for political gain, alleging a “deliberate conspiracy” against the country.

In an interview with a private TV channel, Tarar claimed that Bibi was attempting to incite emotions among the people after previous narratives have failed. He condemned her allegations against a friendly nation, especially “at a time when Saudi investment is coming to Pakistan.”

The information minister added that no one was greater than Pakistan and criticised those who have “gone too far in flattering” their leader. “It is unacceptable for any state to speak ill of another’s military leadership.”

He reiterated that Pakistan has always received support from its allies and labelled her comments as “disgusting,” claiming they reflect a political agenda driven by “deceit and slander”. Tarar recalled previous claims about foreign conspiracies and noted that their own ties, including family connections, contradict their rhetoric.

The government condemns such statements, he said and described them as a “deplorable act that views everything through a political lens, rooted in lies and false accusations.”

In response to the controversy, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari stated that Bibi had launched a “baseless attack” on a friendly Islamic nation. She accused Khan’s wife of becoming a self-proclaimed custodian of Sharia by making allegations against a key Muslim country, calling it “dangerous”.

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PTI distances itself from Bibi’s statement

In response to the backlash and rebuttals regarding Bibi’s comments, PTI leader Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif stated that Khan’s wife holds no official position within the party.

He affirmed her right to freedom of expression, saying that “everyone in the country is entitled to voice their opinions.”

Saif, the adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister on information, stated that Bibi was “simply presenting her perspective on the matter concerning Saudi Arabia.”