After derogatory remarks made by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Rana Sanaullah and Abid Sher Ali, women supporters of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) have taken to social media with the hashtag #PTIForWomenEmpowerment to respond to the shocking remarks.
Earlier, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah had claimed that the women who went to the PTI’s rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on Sunday were not “honourable”.
Before that, State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali had also made shocking remarks about the PTI’s parliamentarian Shireen Mazari, wherein he had referred to the senior PTI leader as “tractor trolley” and had stated that he had told her that “there is nothing to touch in her” when she had asked him to keep the distance and not to touch her.
The hashtag was first tweeted late last night by the PTI’s official page with a picture from the Lahore rally captioned “Enough of PMLN’s cheap tactics to scare & confine our women in homes through their derogatory comments. Tweet your pics/testimonial from a PTI jalsa using HT: #PTIForWomenEmpowerment
& show them it’s not you, it’s PMLN pathetic misogynist mindset at fault.”
Enough of PMLN’s cheap tactics to scare & confine our women in homes through their derogatory comments. Tweet your pics/testimonial from a PTI jalsa using HT: #PTIForWomenEmpowerment
& show them it’s not you, it’s PMLN pathetic misogynist mindset at fault. pic.twitter.com/zOXGy3cueK— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 30, 2018
This is the real PTI#PTIForWomenEmpowerment pic.twitter.com/oqkjQ4Aszn
— Tehreek-e-Insaf (@InsafPK) April 30, 2018
Women plays an important role in politics. PTI has massive respect for women supporters#PTIForWomenEmpowerment pic.twitter.com/qkEOC2yc4W
— PTI Central Punjab (@PTICPOfficial) April 30, 2018
PTI Women – Rise High!
Their Junoon has no substitute , we thank our mothers and sisters for playing a viral role in our movement for justice #PTIForWomenEmpowerment pic.twitter.com/lAf9OYdxt8
— Tehreek-e-Insaf (@InsafPK) April 30, 2018
PTI North Punjab also announced that they would be holding a protest at Islamabad today organised by the PTI North Punjab Women’s wing.
PMLN’s goons Rana Sanaullah & Talal Ch. have Insulted us women. This cannot be ignored.PTI Women Wing Islamabad has decided to launch a strong protest.Please join us on..
Date:Wednesday 2nd May
Time: 4:00 pm
Venue: Infront of Press Club Islamabad.#PTIForWomenEmpowerment— PTI North Punjab (@PtiNorthPunjab) April 30, 2018
Before this, PTI chairman Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi had also spoken up against the remarks made by Rana Sanaullah, with the PTI chairman saying “In the past 30 years, these people have always disrespected women, which is against our religion and culture”.
Disgusted by & strongly condemn the filthy language used by Rana Sanaullah & Abid Sher Ali against our PTI women. In the past 30 yrs these people have always disrespected women which is against our religion & culture. I want to thank our women for coming out in such huge numbers!
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 30, 2018
Rana Sanaullah and his fellow cohorts reflect the mindset of the Sharifs & how they look down on women. Scratch the surface and their real face emerges. https://t.co/PAptflmHM9
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 30, 2018
Shah Mehmood Qureshi had also come out swinging and strongly condemned Rana Sanaullah and Abid Sher Ali, calling the party’s women “flag bearers of our movement and an inspiration for us all.”
I strongly condemn the disgraceful and disgusting statements of Rana Sanaullah & Abid Sher Ali against PTI women. The party is proud of it’s women. They are the flag bearers of our movement and a source of inspiration for all of us.
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) April 30, 2018
Female supporters of the PTI then followed suit and tweeted out their stories and experiences with the part, including female leaders of the party.
I’m proud to be a member of a political party which values and cherishes the role of females in national politics!
Amongst many females in the PTI Core Committee, I have always felt that honour and privilege in all PTI meetings.
Thank you @ImranKhanPTI! pic.twitter.com/qOuoMqHpsh
— Zartaj Gul Wazir (@zartajgulwazir) April 30, 2018
They questioned the PML-N leaders about their ‘character,’ and dared them to explain what they had meant by the PTI rally attendees being ‘dishonourable.’
I came from London during my school vacations to attend the Azadi Dharna and give my support to Imran Khan.
I’m sick of PMLNs Cheap Gutter Politics. Ab bolo Rana Sanaulla, what have you got to say about me? #PTIForWomenEmpowerment pic.twitter.com/8vr0pPWgMg— Soraya Aziz (@SorayaAziz) April 30, 2018
We are Equal humans equal citizens equally respectable when in politics & shud be appreciated acknowledged wid respect when participating in political julsas leaving our kids at home sparing time after completing all responsibilities & chores @PTIofficial #PTIForWomenEmpowerment pic.twitter.com/0jICBoojcQ
— Kanwal Shauzab (@KanwalShauzab) April 30, 2018
One story that particularly gained attention was that of Aamna Hassan Fasihi, a long-time campaigner for the PTI, who spoke of her years of experience with the PTI, in a long thread.
I’m Aamna. Daughter of a middle class Steel Mills employee, a Computer engg student at NED & a social media strategist. Sharing my journey with #PTI in this thread to show Rana Sanaullah who WE, the PTI women really are. #PTIForWomenEmpowerment
— Aamna Hassan Fasihi (@AamnaFasihi) April 30, 2018
PTI is like a family to me, got respect, encouragement and appreciation.
They all have been a mentor to me and all helping me to grow in politics day by day.
Proud to be a part of PTI family#PTIForWomenEmpowerment— Sana Asif (@Sana_a_l) April 30, 2018
First experience: Tried digging out archives but I don’t have my images. Relying on this powerful image from 25th Dec 2011. My first ever jalsa. I was 15 then. #PTIForWomenEmpowerment pic.twitter.com/S8N8VANP1s
— Aamna Hassan Fasihi (@AamnaFasihi) April 30, 2018
Second experience: 6th April 2013, The Naya Pakistan/Tabdeeli Razakar convention. Took this shot from my pink Sony cybershot haha. Saw IK up so close. ? Next to him is Alamgir Khan. Saw @AndleebAbbas & @ArsalanGhumman for 1st time here too.
#PTIForWomenEmpowerment pic.twitter.com/8c4zYa6kaK— Aamna Hassan Fasihi (@AamnaFasihi) April 30, 2018
Latest: 21st Sept 2014 jalsa. Azadi dharna days. We had unexpected guests that day. Mom made Biryani but I kept crying for IK’s jalsa. After seeing off the guests, mom, my sis & I went to Mazar e Quaid. In my defence I was about to turn 18?#PTIForWomenEmpowerment pic.twitter.com/fxZKMbBWSs
— Aamna Hassan Fasihi (@AamnaFasihi) April 30, 2018
Apart from jalsas, I decided we women must come forth in politics more. I got a chance to join PTI’s official Social Media Team in 2014. 2 yrs later that’s me at one of our annual meetups. This one’s from 2016. Got appreciation certificate by @ArifAlvi ?#PTIForWomenEmpowerment pic.twitter.com/A9bh208JfC
— Aamna Hassan Fasihi (@AamnaFasihi) April 30, 2018
She was also then retweeted by PTI leader Shireen Mazari, who was the target of Abid Sher Ali’s comments made after the budget.
Making us proud! #PTIForWomenEmpowerment https://t.co/sK5zkdkUyc
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 1, 2018
