Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has been criticized for misogynist and derogatory remarks against women while referring to female parliamentarians.
The PML-N made the remarks in response to criticism during a joint session of parliamentarians of the manner of legislation in Parliament and the bulldozing of bills.
In his address, Asif made a reference to former prime minister Imran Khan for bulldozing of legislation and the dissolution of the National Assembly during his tenure.
Asif then went on to call the women parliamentarians the “remnants” and “ruins” of the PTI. “Depraved women should not lecture on chastity,” he said.
“They are leftover ruins. They are leftover garbage is left over which needs to be cleaned,” he said while speaking on the floor. Asif said if he says anything else, they would use the “woman card”.
He pointed towards the benches where PTI members were seated, including Senator Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, Sania Nishtar, Falak Naz Chitrali and Fawzia Arshad.
The offensive remarks drew a strong reaction from the PTI women parliamentarians who stood up from their seats and demanded that Asif take his words back.
This is not the first time Khawaja Asif and PMLN have used such demeaning, derogatory & sexist language against Women.
It’s absolutely shameful how the defence minister resorts to such threatening language for women, in attempt to depoliticise them!pic.twitter.com/FBipjzdrVA— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 25, 2023
Speaking in response, PTI Senator Taimur said only one’s moral character and conduct differentiated people.
“I was worried at the language being used by such senior political figures, I’ve never heard such words in my house.” She said it was sad that fellow MNAs had used words such as “garbage”.
“We don’t respect someone else when we don’t consider our own self to be respectable,” she added.
NA speaker called for order in the House and the word “garbage” was expunged from Asif’s speech.
ایسا اخلاق سے گرا ہوا شخص ہے جو متعدد بار اسمبلی کے فلور پر خواتین کے بارے اخلاقیات سے گری ہوئی بدزبانی کرچکا ہے پہلے بھی اس نے شیری مزاری سے متعلق گھٹیا گفتگو اس اسمبلی کے فلور پر کی تھی یہ وہی ہی شخص جو امریکہ میں ایک فورم پر ویسٹرن لباس پہن کر اپنے آپکو لبرل کہہ رہا تھا اور… pic.twitter.com/L4bB0xMY6X
— Farrukh Habib (@FarrukhHabibISF) July 25, 2023
The PTI termed the remarks “absolutely shameful” and a clear attempt to “depoliticise women”. It said Khawaja Asif and PML-N are constantly targeting women of Pakistan as usual.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Khawaja Asif’s remarks are absolutely shameful.
He said this is not the first time Khawaja Asif and PML-N have used such demeaning, derogatory and sexist language against women.
PTI leader Asad Umar also severely criticised the defence minister. PTI’s Farrukh Habib also called out Asif for repeatedly being offensive towards women.
He also questioned why Sherry Rehman and other women MNAs from the treasury benches stayed silent at Asif’s remarks.
Previously in 2016, Khawaja Adid came under fire from opposition lawmakers for making offensive remarks against then-PTI MNA Shireen Mazari referring to her as “tractor trolley”. In 2017, he sparked outcry after referring to Firdous Ashiq Awan as the PTI’s “newly acquired dumper”.
