Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan has been strongly criticised for his ‘sexist’ comments wherein he said during a rally that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif should be careful as her husband might get upset over how ‘passionately’ she mentions Imran during her speeches.
Speaking to a crowd of PTI supporters in Multan on Friday, he said “Maryam Nawaz kept mentioning me with such passion and rigor while speaking at her rally,” adding that he wanted to tell her to be careful that her husband doesn’t get upset over how she mentions Imran.
Imran Khan: "Maryam Nawaz kept mentioning me with such jazba and junoon while speaking at her jalsa. I want to tell her, please be careful, your husband may get upset." pic.twitter.com/xR1qePzawN
— Naya Daur Media (@nayadaurpk) May 20, 2022
Following his statement, users on Twitter have been speaking out against the sexist comments made by the former prime minister.
Many have commented on how the easiest weapon men in this country have against women is to cast aspersions at their character and humiliate them.
اس ملک میں مردوں کا آخری ہتھیار عورت کی تذلیل کرنا ہے چاہے وہ کسی بھی شعبے میں ہو۔
Highly disappointed @ImranKhanPTI pic.twitter.com/dhmiiYymsL— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) May 20, 2022
Yes I agree no matter how much you dislike your political rivals. Using such language and insinuations is highly inappropriate specially for a woman ! https://t.co/WPiE8RFSha
— jasmeen manzoor (@jasmeenmanzoor) May 20, 2022
Others have pointed out that in a society where ‘honor’ revolves around women and what they do, statements such as the one made by Khan have led to generations long animosities amongst communities.
شاید خان صاحب مغرب کے بارے میں جانتے جانتے پاکستانی کلچر بھول گئے،۔
کوئی پاکستانی کیسے کسی کی بہن بیٹی ماں یا بیوی کو ایسے نشانہ بنا سکتا ہے؟؟؟
یہاں پر لوگ ایسے الفاظ پر نسلوں کی دشمنیاں شروع کر دیتے ہیں۔۔— Waseem Abbasi (@Wabbasi007) May 20, 2022
Imran Khan says Maryam Nawaz’s husband might get upset because she speaks of him with such emotion.
He knows he can get away with sexism and innuendo with absolutely impunity so he’s a repeat offender. pic.twitter.com/enuWbaJZBr
— Amber Rahim Shamsi (@AmberRShamsi) May 20, 2022
Just a vile, shameless man. In her speech yesterday Maryam Nawaz took my name with so much jazba and junoon. I want you to be careful Maryam, your husband may get upset: Imran Khan. pic.twitter.com/09wbodtviW
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) May 20, 2022
The vile language that Imran Khan used for @MaryamNSharif is outright disgusting and is an example of the kind of filth that PTI and their handlers have introduced into the mainstream of Pakistani politics. Imran Khan and his followers remain devoid of any basic sense of decency.
— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) May 20, 2022
Some people are commenting on the power imbalance at play, as Imran Khan is older and more experienced than Maryam, and just by virtue of being a man he is granted more culture capital in society.
Former PM @ImranKhanPTI throws a cheap, sexist potshot on a woman politician @MaryamNSharif who’s giving him tough fight. A philandering man twice her age, known for cheating on wives, thinks she’s obsessing over him – the spent bullet.
You can take a boy out of Aitchison but… https://t.co/uAu71LOKSN— Marvi Sirmed (@marvisirmed) May 20, 2022
Imran khan’s vile comments about @MaryamNSharif are result of toxic masculinity. Feel sorry for his late mother, sisters, his daughter, three wives and his party women members. Your late Mother must be ashamed of you @ImranKhanPTI
— Samana Malaika Raza (@MalaikaSRaza) May 20, 2022
"Imran Khan" should be ashamed of the words he used against Maryam Nawaz Sharif. It shows how much respect he has for women. It is so disgusting and disappointing that he was the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan….!!@Atifrauf79#بدزبان_بےلگام_عمران_خان
— شیری بٹ علی پوریا (PP 52) (@SButt_52) May 20, 2022
IK in Multan: 'Maryam Nawaz took my name with such jazba and junoon yesterday at her jalsa that I want to tell her: pls be careful….your husband may get upset'. [THIS IS A NEW LOW EVEN FOR IMRAN KHAN]
— Zebunnisa Burki (@zburki) May 20, 2022
Others are pointing out that these remarks are characteristic for Khan, who has been the subject of internet ire many times before for his sexist remarks on victim blaming and sexual assault.
The man who made sexualized remarks about Maryam Nawaz at a jalsa today is the same guy who said men who are not robots will be sexually provoked by vulgarity. You may call Imran Khan a master of U-Turns, but his misogynistic views have been consistent over the years.
— Ammar Ali Jan (@ammaralijan) May 20, 2022
Imran Khan's misogynist statement about Maryam Nawaz in his Multan jalsa today was 'absolutely' abominable but then, patriarchal politics and sexual anxiety are characteristic of fascism and he is proficient at it.
The people must not brook this assault on our moral values.— Saria Benazir (@SariaBenazir) May 20, 2022
So it's okay for Imran Khan to be sexist towards Maryam Nawaz because Rana Sanaullah was sexist towards Bushra Bibi because Sheikh Rasheed was sexist towards Bilawal because Khawaja Asif was sexist towards Shireen Mazari because Gandapur was sexist towards Maryam.
Makes sense.
— Syed Zain Raza (@SyedZainRaza_) May 20, 2022
Imran Khan’s comment on Maryam Nawaz is in utterly bad taste, something he should never have said about anyone anywhere.
And I condemn it without resorting to any whataboutery.— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) May 20, 2022
So the Kaptaan proves once again that he is an ignorant, bigoted, self consumed idiot, who is definitely a person not fit to lead the nation. He should run back to pleasant England and hide under Jemima’s skirts once again and beg the forgiveness of all the Pakistani women he has denigrated, insulted and demeaned by his sexist comments. What a loser this fool is.
What more can one expect from a London gigolo?
Just because Imran and his team plays dirty tricky politics does not mean he can use dirty language. He should issue a public apology. Immediately.