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For the last two days, social media has erupted with angry comments regarding Pakistan Muslim League – N’s members, Rana Sanaullah, Tallal Chaudhry and Abid Sher Ali. The issue got so out of hand, that people had started talking about protesting outside Punjab Assembly, till PML-N leadership took notice.
However, the negative and sexist comments made against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf’s women by PML-N leaders, were never going to go well with the public, or their party heads. The misogynistic comments were made by Abid Sher Ali , Tallal Chaudhry Rana Sanaullah on Shireen Mazari and other woman who attended the historic Minar-e-Pakistan Lahore Jalsa.
Shahbaz Sharif took to his personal Twitter account and wrote: “PML-N acknowledes and encourages the role of women in national politics. Any statement demeaning them is highly irresponsible. We have to maintain decency and element of respect in political discourse. I apologize for anti-women remarks made by some party leaders.”
PMLN acknowledes and encourages the role of women in national politics. Any statement demeaning them is highly irresponsible. We have to maintain decency and element of respect in political discourse. I apologise for anti-women remarks made by some party leaders.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 1, 2018
While people below the Tweet asked @CMShahbaz to take harsher steps against his party members, like suspending them or issuing them show-cause notices, living in Pakistan, we know that will never happen. Usually, party heads do not apologize for their members’ statements or comments, but CM Shahbaz Sharif, being a gentleman like he always been, did so on his party’s behalf.
Comments made regarding women who attended the show of power by PTI in Minar-e-Pakistan showed how mudslinging is the worst of traits in Pakistani politics where men slander women so openly. Rana Sanaullah while speaking to reporters outside the Punjab Assembly said: “The women who attended the rally were not from honorable families because their dance moves showed where they had actually come from.”
On the other hand, members of National Assembly referring to female members, saying they had nothing that deserved to be touched, is also misogynistic and offensive. Tallal Chaudhry at a separate press conference, had addressed PTI chieftain Imran Khan and said: “When it comes to your wife, she remains veiled, but our mothers and sisters are for display?”
People on social media, the general public, celebrities and activists, all spoke up against the anti-women comments made by the PML-N, which in time, can detrimental for the party’s woman vote bank.
