Feb 3, 2024
Staff Report
LAHORE:
In a press conference held today at the Peshawar Press Club, Provincial President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Amir Maqam, strongly condemned the “hooliganism” witnessed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly on Feb 28.
Tensions escalated during the inaugural session of the KP assembly as members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) hurled slogans, a shoe and a lota – water cistern – at Sobia Shahid, a female member of the provincial assembly representing the PML-N.
Shahid was displaying wristwatches, mocking Imran Khan for his involvement in acquiring and selling wristwatches from the Toshakhana.
Muqam criticised the PTI for violating the sanctity of the house by allegedly “bringing in goons”. He said, “These actions have brought disgrace to Pakhtunkhwa traditions”.
He then questioned the intentions of PTI parliamentarians, asking if they seek “more seats than they actually won in the elections”.
Muqam demanded a thorough inquiry into the individuals responsible for bringing these PTI members into the assembly.
“An investigation should be conducted against them and FIRs be registered accordingly.”
Defending Abuse
In a highly objectionable statement, on March 1, the newly elected KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur tried to defend the offensive acts of his party men and remarked that Sobia Shahid should have anticipated this type of behaviour before waving the wristwatches.
Meanwhile, former parliamentarian Bushra Gohar, tells Voicepk that the PTI MPA exhibited shameful behaviour – “Legal action is called for against this act of sexual harassment.”
She adds that such acts indicate these men are not fit to be members of the assembly.
Gohar expresses disappointment that instead of addressing ignored issues of the province, the assembly session witnessed disgraceful acts where PTI members hurled abuses at a female parliamentarian.
She criticized their capability to represent the province, attributing such abuse to the aftereffects of ‘Project Taliban’, which she believes has lowered the standards of politics to such levels where hooligans are running politics.
She fears that given the hostile atmosphere in the assembly, more acts of violence against women are likely to occur.
Social media was abuzz with condemnation of this unacceptable behaviour put up by the PTI members in the parliament.P
“PTI has been ruling KP for over a decade and this is the culture it has promoted,” posted an X user, Najam Ali…. “PTI has ruined an entire generation by encouraging abusive and violent behaviour. No respect for anyone. Economy will recover but such behaviour will not improve quickly.”
Sobia Shahid incident is revealing as well as revolting.
Is this the Naya Pakistan we were promised? PTI has been ruling KP for over a decade and this is the culture it has promoted.
I have been saying it before, PTI has ruined an entire generation by encouraging abusive and…
— Najam Ali (@najam_ali) March 2, 2024
Usama Khilji, digital media activist, tweeted: “Sexual harassment of MPA Sobia Shahid shows how exponentially more women politicians are vulnerable to personal attacks for their politics as compared to men. Speaker KP assembly should take stringent action & tolerate no harassment as per the harassment laws of Pakistan.”
Sexual harassment of MPA Sobia Shahid shows how exponentially more women politicians are vulnerable to personal attacks for their politics as compared to men. Speaker KP assembly should take stringent action & tolerate no harassment as per the harassment laws of Pakistan.
— Usama Khilji (@UsamaKhilji) March 2, 2024