Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Talal Chaudhry has stirred controversy by targeting PM’s Special Assistant for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan with a sexist comment.
While talking to reporters outside the parliament, the PML-N stalwart mocked Awan and said that she was “more of a man than a woman”.
“This is the kind of tabdeeli … if Baji Firdous Ashiq Awan washes her face, the way her real looks would emerge from behind her makeup… she would appear as Firdous Khan instead of Baji Firdous. This is also the real face of this tabdeeli,” Talal said.
Tweets began pouring in from various segments of the society as the derogatory remarks prompted an uproar on social media.
Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari dubbed Talal as a “sick misogynist mindset”.
Condemnable statement by a sick misogynist mindset – that is PMLN’s Talal. https://t.co/lcU0Q4HJhy
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 21, 2019
Journalist Nasim Zahra observed that “[it is] not [the] 1st time he [Talal] is being rude & crass [towards women]”.
So shld v kill all decency at the altar of political / power battles! This truly sick talk comes from a man who is PMLN’s leader. Not 1st time he is being rude & crass.Apologize! Ur sick/sexist remarks facilitate violence/vulgarity agst women in our country. @MaryamNSharif https://t.co/U747FhGerP
— Nasim Zehra (@NasimZehra) May 21, 2019
Journalist Mansoor Ali Khan termed the comment as “distasteful”.
Absolutely distasteful comment by Talal Ch. @Dr_FirdousPTI deserves the highest level of respect being a female politician. pic.twitter.com/LF1Cuin80N
— Mansoor Ali Khan (@_Mansoor_Ali) May 21, 2019
Meanwhile, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal apologised on behalf of his party and said that “MNS’s [Mian Nawaz Sharif] legacy is to maintain decency in politics”.
We must not make political battles personal and should always be respectful towards women regardless of their political affiliation. I apologise on behalf of PMLN. Our leader MNS’s legacy is to maintain decency in politics. https://t.co/PusiQiayGb
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) May 21, 2019
