Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Rashid Soomro has said that women will not be present at Pakistan Democratic Party (PDM) public meeting in Karachi on Sunday (tomorrow) — a statement that resulted in an uproar on social media, forcing Pakistan Muslim League – N (PML-N) to issue a clarification.
“It has been decided that women would not attend the jalsa tomorrow,” he said, while addressing media during the PDM’s pre-jalsa meeting in Karachi. He went on to say that the decision was taken in light of the law and order situation.
The JUI-F leader’s statement led to a backlash on social media with a number of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders condemning the announcement.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman shard the news piece and wrote, “Is this for real? No women in PDM jalsa? As a policy”
Is this for real? No women in PDM jalsa? As a policy pic.twitter.com/sffQkX8fwv
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) August 28, 2021
PPP MNA Shazia Marri also released a video message condemning the announcement.
Condemn the ban on women participation pic.twitter.com/q9brMeqoAh
— Shazia Atta Marri (@ShaziaAttaMarri) August 28, 2021
Following the outrage, PML-N leader Ataullah Tarar tweeted that women would be attending the jalsa. “Meeting is still going on but I felt obligated to tweet during the meeting. Women will attend tomorrow’s jalsa,” he tweeted.
Meeting is still going on but I felt obligated to tweet during the meeting
Women will attend tomorrow's jalsa. https://t.co/jsgQTcSouM pic.twitter.com/or836VcVM9— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) August 28, 2021
It therefore remains unclear as to whether a decision about women’s presence at the jalsa was taken at the meeting, as suggested by Rashid Soomro.
