ISLAMABAD: Federal Defence Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif has once again resorted to a verbal transgression by calling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s new arrival Firdous Ashiq Awan as the party’s “newly acquired dumper”. The tweet has sparked a public outcry.
This is not the first time he has used a derogatory term while referring to a woman, earlier, he had called Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief whip Shireen Mazari as a “tractor trolly”.
In a series of tweets on Monday night, Asif seemed to ridicule the recent political additions to the PTI and compared the performance of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with that of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
Asif, while referring to politicians who have switched loyalties to PTI, said that “while [the] PM is making history through personal example, Imran Khan is collecting political garbage and taking the party [PTI] to gutters.”
While PM making history thru personal example..IK collecting political garbage,taking party to gutters..pretending recycling of incyclable
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) June 12, 2017
Then, supposedly taking a jibe at Mazari and Awan, the federal minister said the “tractor trolly and newly acquired dumper can be used for hauling political garbage…no additional effort/expense” — a suggestion at further possible defections to PTI.
There is silver lining for IK, Tractor trolly & newly acquired dumper can b used for hauling political garbage..no additional effort/expense
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) June 12, 2017
Referring to the insulting comments on Twitter, Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Khursheed Shah criticised Asif’s controversial remarks regarding PTI’s women members.
“We also have sisters and daughters,” Shah said.
Users on Twitter were appalled by the defence minister’s language, expressing their shock at his remarks.
“Are you a literate Defense Minister of Pakistan?” one user commented in response to Asif’s tweet.
are you a literate Defense Minister of Pakistan ? #Shame
— Zaeem Abbas (@zaeem_abbas) June 12, 2017
One user suggested that Asif be stripped of his defence ministry portfolio in the light of his recent outburst.
“This person most definitely does not deserve to be a minister.”
this person most definitely does not deserve to be a minister. says a die hard supporter of NS! low at shabby level
— MairaS (@MairaHashmi) June 12, 2017
