Daily Times

I must confess that my first reaction after watching the live press conference of Ayesha Gulalai (AG) was that she might be spicing up her story by adding charges of inappropriate sexting on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan. In a counter press conference by the PTI spokesperson not only indecent remarks were made against AG but also the No 1 female squash player of Pakistan was unnecessarily dragged in to settle a score with the rebel parliamentarian. Naming Marya Wazir proved counterproductive and only helped in bringing an illustrious self-made sporting hero into the limelight that she deserved in a more positive way. So far I have identified five different attack strategies employed by the PTI leadership that aim at nipping the allegations in the bud. The second response was to malign AG by making allegations of corruption such as taking bribes in transfer postings and contracts. This stance was aimed at protecting the party chief but it ended up destroying the credibility of claims of good governance made by PTI as it amounted to self-incrimination on the part of spokespersons of the KP government. The third response came in the form of short lived tweets from the party’s spokesperson Naeemul Haque wherein he claimed that there was nothing wrong if he had made suggestions of marriage to AG. Only to worsen the comedy of errors, it was quickly claimed by another spokesperson of the party that Mr Haque’s account had been hacked. The fourth response came in the form of actual threats of violence from a few party leaders against the person of AG. Interestingly the widely claimed independent and ideal police of KP remained unmoved over commission of these crimes in front of cameras but reportedly filed an FIR against AG. All the four responses, like a cracker, made noise but emitted little light. The fifth response came in the form of a press conference by Ayesha Ahad who was conspicuously flanked by female leaders of PTI. Besides the common first name, what else is common with the case of AG is hard to understand. Perhaps a desperate attempt to dilute the media attention by propping up something in competition.

Ayesha Ahad wants that Hamza Shahbaz should accept her as his wife as he had secretly married him a few years ago. It shouldn’t be rocket science that a claim of matrimony can easily be ascertained in a court of law by furnishing evidence. Reportedly Ayesha Ahad failed to do so when given a chance in the court. Matrimonial relationships last when both parties want to retain the bond. Despite some reservations, I would desire justice for Ayesha Ahad if any case of wrongdoing is established. The case of AG is however entirely different as it is not for enforcing a matrimonial relationship but instead is based on an allegation of sexual harassment in the workplace which is a criminal offence. In a sexual harassment situation the boss desires sexual favours from a junior employee and when not successful becomes revengeful and damages her career. Ayesha has alleged that she was gradually side-lined as both Imran Khan and Naeemul Haque failed to get a positive response from her. So prima facie it is a strong case of sexual harassment. It is not impossible that AG might have been influenced by political considerations in choosing the timing of going public with her allegations. But this does not automatically make her allegations untrue. On one hand integrity of the chairman of an important political party is at stake and on the other hand a young female political worker is in need of justice. Therefore an impartial investigation is needed and the parliamentary committee is the right forum to ascertain AG’s evidence and give Imran Khan a fair opportunity to rebut the charges and come clean.

Those that have made charges of impropriety against AG in press conferences need to be prosecuted under the law of Qazaf. The Constitution guarantees equal protection of law to all citizens. AG deserves this protection as well

Some critics have raised the issue of not making allegations when the offence was allegedly committed. This brings to my attention the case of Jimmy Saville that grabbed headlines of the British media a year ago. Jimmi, the popular host of Top of the Pops BBC show, when alive enjoyed immense respect as a charity fundraiser as he raised about £40 million for various charities in his lifetime. Though some allegations of sex offences were made against him during his life but due to immense popularity of Saville as a TV personality and a charity fundraiser no one took such allegations seriously enough.Years after his death in 2011, an independent inquiry has established that the celebrity preyed on around 500 vulnerable victims at institutions including the BBC’s broadcasting studios and a large number of hospitals.

The purpose of citing Jimmi Saville is not to suggest that Imran Khan in any way has been acting like the late celebrity but only to underscore the point that it is very difficult to be believed when a charge is levelled against a personality that reigns the imagination of his followers. It is therefore important that we do not summarily dismiss the case of AG. Not only the issue needs to be adequately investigated but those that have committed criminal offences by threatening AG publicly need to be arrested and prosecuted. Those that have made charges of impropriety against AG in press conferences need to be prosecuted under the law of Qazaf. The Constitution guarantees equal protection of law to all citizens. AG deserves this protection as well.

The writer teaches public policy in the UK and is the founding member of the Rationalist Society of Pakistan. He can be reached at hashah9@yahoo.com

Published in Daily Times, August 9^th 2017.