PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday took notice of unsavoury remarks made by Sindh Works and Services Minister Imdad Pitafi against Nusrat Sehar Abbasi, a provincial legislator from Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F).
The remarks were made when Abbasi put a question to Pitafi during assembly proceedings, who responded with an invitation to Abbasi to visit his chamber for what he called “a satisfactory reply”.
If that was not enough, television cameras also caught a UK-educated PPP lawmaker, Nawab Muhammad Taimur Talpur, taunting Abbasi.
The remarks had prompted laughter from other members of the ruling party.
Bilawal on Saturday directed provincial party head Nisar Khuhro to issue a show-cause notice to Pitafi and take further action if Pitafi failed to defend himself adequately in his response.
Within minutes after the issuance of Bilawal’s statement, Pitafi said that he had already confessed his mistake and sought pardon on the issue. He further said that he will also say sorry on the floor of the House.
The minister also said that he will respond to the notice, when received, and will accept any decision taken by the party leadership in this regard.
Earlier, Abbasi had demanded that the PPP leadership remove Pitafi from the ministry as well as from the provincial assembly.
She said that those dishonouring women from the platform of a party once led by a woman should be sacked.
Bakhtawar slams ‘unacceptable behaviour’
Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari had earlier taken to Twitter to reprimand Pitafi.
Quoting a tweet by PPP worker Nafisa Shah, Bakhtawar had said: “Yes [he] must apologise[.] absolutely unacceptable behaviour & totally against ethos of our party that has been led by the strongest of women #PPP”