• Says report relies on ‘half-truths, innuendo and selective outrage’
• Demands writers, publication issue immediate public apology

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: As The Economist’s article on former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi continues to circulate widely and spark debate across the country, the PTI has claimed that it contains nothing more than “recycled propaganda” masquerading as foreign commentary, and demanded that the writers and the publication issue an immediate public apology.

The report examined the PTI founder’s marriage to Bushra Bibi and her alleged influence on his decision-making as prime minister, among other issues.

In an official response issued by the PTI media wing on Saturday, the party alleged that co-writer Bushra Taskeen was a known critic of the PTI and that the “so-called” analysis published in The Economist was aimed at justifying political victimisation while favouring the PML-N, calling into question the objectivity of this analysis.

The party further said it reserved the right to initiate legal action against all parties involved — including the writers and The Economist — should they fail to issue an immediate, full and public apology.

“We have seen this narrative play out before: half-truths, innuendo, selective outrage, all packaged and presented as ‘objective analysis’. This attempt to misrepresent facts is not intended to inform Pakistan or its people, but rather to justify political victimisation and distract attention from real crises about human rights violations, economic collapse, constitutional violations and systematically stolen elections,” the statement said.

“What is most striking is the convenient targeting of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, who have been incarcerated for two years and three months, while the article remains silent on what has been happening in Pakistan for the last three years and seven months. There is no mention of human rights violations, the rigged elections confirmed even by Commonwealth observers, the hundreds of PTI supporters who have recently been handed 10-year sentences in fabricated cases, or the systematic political persecution the party has faced,” the statement said.

The PTI said the Al Qadir Trust case, frequently cited in the article, was ongoing and had not been “fixed” as implied.

“PTI has consistently sought transparency and judicial resolution. The Constitution itself has been repeatedly tampered with in fear of Imran Khan, undermining the rule of law. One must ask the writers why they did not highlight these grave concerns and instead chose to sensationalise the personal life of the PTI leader,” the party stated.

“Imran Khan’s own trials are far from open and fair. They are being conducted inside prison, denying him his basic rights, including meetings with family, friends and legal counsel, despite explicit court orders,” the statement concluded.

Political propaganda

Meanwhile, KP CM’s special assistant on information Shafiullah Jan said The Economist’s report was baseless, political propaganda, and would be pursued on international forums. In a statement, he also refuted the claim made in the report that Bushra Bibi interfered in government affairs, calling it baseless.

He added that official records of meetings — including those of the federal cabinet, Economic Coordination Committee, National Security Committee and parliamentary proceedings — were available, and that no government official or institution had ever complained about such interference.

The CM’s aide said the PML-N was so terrified of Mr Khan that it staged “daily dramas”, adding that people had rejected the party, which was why the government was using journalism for its “nefarious designs” against the PTI.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2025