My sexist, below-the-belt comments were meant to be on a lighter note, says Khwaja Asif

Our Sexism Correspondent

ISLAMABAD

In a written statement submitted to the National Assembly Secretariat, federal minister for water and power, Khawaja Asif, said that his sexist, below-the-belt comments addressed to PTI legislator Shireen Mazari were all meant on a lighter note.

“My words were misunderstood,” he told reporters outside the parliament hall. “When I used the term tractor trolly, I did not mean her, obviously. She is a human being, not a vehicle. I had meant it as a joke, describing her. You all didn’t get it.”

“I apologise categorically to the House, but would also ask, if today we can’t say, in the lighter vein, sexist things like ‘get a more feminine voice’, thentomorrow we would be asked not to crack racist jokes,” he said.

“Could you imagine not being able to crack jokes about pathans?” he asked as fellow Leaguer Amir Qaim Makam looked on.

“The important thing to remember here is that it is all okay if meant in a lighter vein. Even shouting fire in a crowded theatre is okay as long as you clarify after the stampede which kills several people that you were joking,” he explained to reporters.

“Hahah, imagine if Shireen Mazari was also running in that stampede,” he concluded, laughing. None of the reporters or parliamentarians present were laughing.