We’re here for a cause, not for fun

• PTI’s women protesters rebuff parliamentarians’ taunts of obscenity
• Say they do not need ‘certificate of piety’ from JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman
• INGO country head says by mobilising women, PTI chief has done what thousands of dollars could not do

Female participants of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI’s) sit-in in the federal capital have vehemently denied allegations of obscenity and indecency leveled against them by many parliamentarians during the ongoing joint session of Parliament.

“We are not here for fun; we came here for a cause despite facing many hurdles. It really hurts when they (parliamentarians) try to belittle our protest to a mere dance show,” an annoyed Anusha told Pakistan Today.

Anusha, a school-teacher, said that such “frivolous comments” by parliamentarians do not suit their stature and they should come up with a “decent response”.

Vowing not to be discouraged by the taunts hurled and indecent language used against women participants of the sit-in, 50-year-old social worker Fazeelat Abbas said, “Instead of appreciating the fact that a large number of educated women are attending political gatherings, the parliamentarians are saying that they are here to enjoy a show.”

Faria, a university student told Pakistan Today that she was at the sit-in to play her part in the creation of “naya Pakistan led by PTI Chairman Imran Khan”, adding that no amount of taunts could dent her resolve to get “Naya Pakistan”.

‘KHAN HAS DONE IT’:

Expressing shock over the allegations of obscenity hurled at PTI’s women supporters, Ghalia– who is serving as Country Head in an international NGO working for women empowerment– said that she is “very happy and proud” of her fellow female participants of the PTI rally.

“Khan’s integrity and steadfastness that has brought us all here and I do not think that women are politically any less aware than men,” she said.

“To criticise women participants of the rallies is in fact an insult to the political awakening of women; Khan has done what billions of dollars of international donors could not do to create awareness among women,” said Ghalia, adding “I wonder why United States and the West is opposing our protests”.

‘NOBOBY ASKED YOUR OPINION, FAZLUR REHMAN’:

Lambasting Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chairman, Faria said, “People like Fazlur Rehman do not even deserve a comment over the filthy language they are using against us,” adding that these people are afraid of a new Pakistan where they will be devoid of the opportunity to fool the public in the name of Islam.

“We do not need a certificate of piety from Fazl. We will dance and sing and do whatever we want to,” she concluded.

An elderly lady participating in the sit-in along with her daughter and grandchildren said that taunts of parliamentarians against female protestors remind her of the allegations hurled against politician Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto by Fazlur Rehman’s father Mufti Mehmood in 1970 elections.

Rubbishing parliamentarians’ claims of ongoing obscenity in the PTI sit-in, she said, “Do they think we are a character-less lot who has come here for some sort of indecent activity,” while adding that had there been any indecent activity going on in the sit-in, people would not have brought their young children along.

“The allegations of parliamentarians against women only reflect their moral bankruptcy,” the elderly lady asserted.