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KARACHI: The ruling party of Sindh, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), has issued a show-cause notice to one of its leaders, Nabil Gabol, for making shocking remarks about rape on a YouTube video.
Gabol’s comments, in which he appeared to suggest that rape can be enjoyable, have drawn widespread condemnation both at home and abroad.
Prominent figures including human rights activist and lawyer Nighat Dad, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, author Fatima Bhutto, and artist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto have taken to social media platforms to register their outrage at Gabol’s comments, calling them “repulsive” and “sick.”
Reacting on the incident, PPP Sindh President Nisar Khoro last night summoned an explanation from Gabol within three days. A PPP spokesperson has warned that disciplinary action will be taken against Gabol if he fails to comply.
What actually had happened:
Could someone please tell me this politician's name (the one being interviewed?) He's from PPP. Whoever he is, he's got the sickest mind ever. He just said 'When r*pe is imminent, just enjoy it'. What a sick, sick mind. If people like him ended up making our policies & laws, r*pe… pic.twitter.com/6B5rbalMkZ
— Muneeb Qadir (@muneebqadirmmq) April 2, 2023
The video is from The Pakistan Experience, a podcast interview by Shehzad Ghias shared on January 2. In it, the duo delves into many subtopics under Pakistani politics. In a section labelled ‘Discussing MQM’, the host asks, “Isn’t this also an issue — we badmouth politicians but turn them into an asset when we’re in need. When we don’t need them anymore, operations against them start the way we saw in Musharraf’s time, for a long while, the people who were excused were the same ones who had operations conducted against them. No one raised their voice or protested.”
In response, Gabol said he would like to use an example that is a saying in English. “When rape is imminent, just enjoy it,” he said. Ghias told him there was no such saying but the politician insisted that there was.
“If you do not have any other option but to take it, if you have the power to bear it then just enjoy it,” he continued. “But if you have honour, then stand up against it. We have borne this which is why they use us. How? Just think that someone is forcing themselves on you, okay this is happening but you should at least stand up front of them and raise your voice. The most they can do is put you in jail.”
Social media and human rights activists believe that Gabol’s remarks are particularly disturbing given the prevalence of sexual violence in Pakistan, where women and girls are often the victims of rape and other forms of abuse.
Although the PPP’s decision to take action against Gabol sends a strong message that such comments will not be tolerated, especially from those in positions of power, however, it remains to be seen what action will be taken against Gabol.
