Maryam Riaz Wattoo alleges inhumane prison conditions for Imran Khan’s wife, citing deteriorating health and denial of family meetings, while PTI founder reshapes opposition leadership amid ongoing political turmoil.
Islamabad [Pakistan], August 21:
The political storm around Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) deepened on Wednesday as fresh revelations surfaced about the condition of Bushra Bibi, wife of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Maryam Riaz Wattoo, sister of Bushra Bibi, made explosive claims during a TV appearance on ARY News’ Eleventh Hour, stating that Bushra had been pushed to the brink of a hunger strike inside prison just to secure the right to meet her family.
“She has been living in extremely difficult and unlawful conditions. The ceiling of her cell is leaking, the electric board carries live current, rats are roaming around, and electricity outages sometimes last up to two days,” Maryam alleged.
According to her, Bushra was finally permitted to see her family only after repeated pleas that stretched for over a month, and even then, the family had to wait outside the jail for hours before being allowed in.
Maryam further said her sister’s health has drastically declined. “Bushra Bibi has lost almost 15 kilograms and has grown very weak. Yet her morale remains unbroken,” she stressed. She also accused authorities of deliberately denying Bushra bail in several cases and preventing her from meeting her husband Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, from inside prison, PTI founder Imran Khan has continued to assert his political influence. He has nominated Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai as his candidate for Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA). For the Senate, he has put forward veteran PTI leader Azam Khan Swati.
“Azam Khan Swati has been nominated as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate,” PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja confirmed. He also revealed that Imran has suggested five names for the role of opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly.
These developments underline PTI’s claim that both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are victims of political victimisation. While the party recalibrates its opposition leadership, questions about prison conditions and human rights continue to intensify in Pakistan’s political discourse.