Who is Bushra Bibi, Imran Khan's third wife leading PTI protests in Pakistan's capital against govt?

Bushra Bibi, the mysterious third wife of Imran Khan, has now become the face of the protests this week by supporters of the former Pakistan PM, who are demanding that the government release him from jail. At least five people have died in the violence.

Almost always appearing with her face and head coverered except for the eyes in traditional Islamic attire, Bushra has been leading the charge in the marches of PTI or Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Sitting in a car, she gave the exhortation to PTI supporters to march to D-Chowk at the heart of the capital, after a planned rally on November 24 was thwarted by a court order.

Watch: Pakistan: Imran Khan's Wife Bushra Bibi Takes Centre Stage in Protest

That order from Islamabad High Court had cited the visit of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and a new public order law as the reasons for disallowing mass gatherings over the weekend. But PTI held protests in different parts of the world and, on Monday, started a march to Islamabad from the outskirts of the capital.

Ahead of the protest, Bushra Bibi said, "This is not just about my husband; it is about this country and its leader."

Addressing PTI workers at a rally from atop a container placed by security forces to prevent the protests, Bibi vowed to fight for Khan's release 'until her last breath'.

"Until Imran Khan is with us, we will not end this protest. I will remain here until my last breath, and I ask all of you to stand by us. This isn’t just about my husband. It’s about the future of our country and the leadership we deserve," The Express Tribune quoted her as saying.

Bushra's political baptism by fire came at the end of a series of court cases and imprisonment. Earlier having carefully avoided the spotlight, she was thrust into action as Khan, ousted in a no-trust motion in 2022 that followed an election which brought PML-N back to power, continues to languish in jail.

In the latest, Bushra and Khan were booked for terrorism in connection with the protest held on November 24.

Who is Bushra Bibi?

Described as a spirtual guide, faith healer, and 'witch' depending on where you look at for info on her, Bushra Bibi is the third wife of cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, after Britain's Jemima Goldsmith and Pakistani journalist Reham Khan. 

Around 50 years of age, she was known earlier as Bushra Maneka, having been married into a prominent Pakistani political family before meeting Khan.

Also read: Pakistan court grants bail to Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi in Toshakhana case

Khan married Bushra in 2018, at the time saying he did not even get a glimpse of her face until after they were married. That's a departure from his playboy persona during his cricketing heydays.

Soon after their marriage, stories circulated in local Pakistani media about her mystical powers.

Bushra had already made a name for herself as a faith healer and spiritual adviser.

At the time, it was said that marrying her brought Khan good fortunes.

It was even reported that Bushra, who was still married to her first husband, saw a dream that Khan could become Pakistan PM only if she married him. In a rare, and till then the only TV interview in October 2018, she dismissed this as bunkum.

Just six months into the marriage in a very low-key ceremony, Khan was catapulted to the top position, but it had been a rough ride for the couple since then.

After a flurry of court cases that followed his ouster, Khan and Bushra were sent to jail in a corruption case linked to 'toshakhana' or state gifts. They were also fined $2 million each.

Also read: Former Pak PM Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi poisoned in jail, alleges sister

Last October, she was released from jail on bail while serving a 14-year sentence, where she alleged attempts to poison her food. 

Bushra is reported to be a follower of Sufism and was a mother of five when she met Khan at a Sufi shrine.

Bushra is also being pursued in court by her ex-husband Khawar Maneka.

Son of a former minister in Benazir Bhutto's cabinet, Maneka made the infamous "fraudulent marriage and fornication" complaint against Bushra with whom he was married for 28 years. While the fornication claim was rejected, the court case continued on fraudulant marriage complaint, as Muslim women cannot remarry for a few months after their husband's demise or in case of divorce. Maneka's case alleges that she did not follow the observance of this period.

Bushra and Khan were entangled in a flurry of legal cases since his ouster, estimated to number around 200.

Born into an influential family in Pakistan's Punjab province, Bushra is a follower of sufi mystic poet Baba Farid.

She married Maneka in 1989, and got divorced in 2017. She has three daughters and two sons from that marriage.

(With inputs from agencies)