Female MPs accuse Imran Khan of discriminating against women

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s recent statement on reserved seats for female parliamentarians was not taken well by the female legislators on Monday as they declared it an insult of the House and of female members.
Responding to a point of order raised by Yasmin Rehman, Anusha Rehman Khan from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said that some “political puppets” who were not even members of the parliament were questioning the legitimacy of female representation in the parliament.
“Imran Khan took admission in Oxford University on the basis of cricket and should not be compared to female politicians like Fatima Jinnah and Benazir Bhutto,” she said, challenging the PTI chief to compare his educational certificates with her qualification.
“Very highly qualified and educated women, including Fatima Jinnah, Benazir Bhutto, Dr Nafeesa Shah and Begum Shehnaz Wazir Ali have been part of this parliament, and Imran Khan is challenging their legitimacy as members in an immoral manner,” she said.
Shehnaz Wazir Ali also hit hard at the PTI chief and said that those who were criticising female lawmakers “do not have the mandate of the people to even sit in this House”.
“Imran Khan does not know how to respect women,” she said. “All women sitting in this House are here because of their qualifications and are performing their duties well,” she said.
Jameela Gillani accused Imran Khan of discrimination against women. “Women reach the House because of their own political struggles and Imran Khan’s verdict has proved that he held an undemocratic approach,” said Gillani.
Kashmala Tariq said that Imran Khan’s statement proved that he is “mentally and politically immature”.
Law Minister Farooq Naik said that no one had the right to declare the House unconstitutional.
GONDAL REJECTS: Venting his anger at a recent report which accuses parliamentarians of not filing their tax returns, Public Accounts Committe Chairman Nadeem Afzal Gondal protested that his name was also included in the list of ‘tax thieves’, damaging his reputation badly. Gondal demanded an audit of the NGO, saying that it should be made public that who was financing this particular NGO and misleading the people.
“If I am given justice, I will not hesitate in contacting the Supreme Court,” he said.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi said that some NGOs were trying to malign politicians in order to get money from donor agencies. “All NGOs are not like this but some are misusing their funds,” Kundi said.
MQM JUDICIARY: Waseem Akhtar of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) used strong language against the judiciary over the SC’s recent decision to summon MQM chief Altaf Hussain in a contempt of court case.
“Judges, in their ruling, used the word ‘monoply’ for the MQM, which is an insult of the 10 percent population of Pakistan who have given mandate to Altaf Hussain,” he said.
“I term the remarks by these judges as biased,” he said. He said that the judiciary was blind to the law and order situation and killings in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and was constantly focused on Karachi.
The National Assembly speaker interrupted Akhtar and asked him not to debate on the conduct of the judiciary as per the rules and regulations of the house.
Akhtar, however, maintained that his focus was on the particular decision of the SC and advised that the judges should also avoid making political statements.
The House was adjourned until Tuesday morning.