KARACHI: Women’s Action Forum is shocked at the male abuse and threats against Ayesha Gulalai for speaking out against her alleged sexual harassment within the PTI. “WAF is more dismayed at those women who are themselves targets of abusive misogyny, and then join the male squads in suspecting women for lying and fabricating their abuse for financial gain. Abuse against political women like Benazir Bhutto and those who stand up for their rights against cruelty, such as Mukhtaran Mai, Malala and so many Pakistani women is a deliberate strategy to intimidate all women who dare to enter or speak out in male public spheres.” “Those cowardly social media users who are exhibiting blatant criminal behaviour and terrorizing Gulalai with threats acid attacks and sending jirgas to her house should come into the real world and meet women survivors of such crimes. When party leaders tolerate or laugh off verbal abuse and harassment of women, it creates impunity and encourages the harassers to become more violent in their threats.” “We urge all political parties to take urgent action against such political persecution of women and open inter-party investigations over such serious allegations.” WAF rejects all constitutional farces introduced by Ziaul Haq, including articles 62 and 63. Published in Daily Times, August 3rd 2017.