Daily Times

Ayesha Ahad is back in the limelight with old allegations of being mistreated at the hands of PML-N leader and CM Shehbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Shehbaz. That Ahad came forward with her earlier allegations at a time when Sharifs’ arch-rival Imran Khan has been accused by a female party member of sending obscene messages will certainly raise questions about her motives. How come she suddenly reappeared after being away for over 5 years? Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seems to be using Ahad’s case as a tit for tat response to Gulalai’s allegations. Needless to say this is a flawed approach.

The PTI had never been so passionate about speaking up for ‘justice’ in Ayesha Ahad’s case despite the fact that she first made the allegations several years ago. The party is clearly using Ahad’s case as an excuse to divert public attention from the sexual harassment allegations levelled by Ayesha Gulalai. Imran Khan did not feel the need to clarify his position in the wake of Gulalai’s accusations but posted a number of tweets about Ahad’s allegations, terming the Sharif family a ‘mafia’. Two wrongs don’t make a right. A leader who promises a ‘new Pakistan’ should come clear on the allegations levelled against him before accusing his opponents of the same.

Despite the questionable timing of it all, we stand with Ayesha Ahad and demand an investigation into her allegations of mistreatment. Shehbaz Sharif, who claims to stand for fair play, should walk the talk by ensuring Ahad is served justice. Instead of throwing counter-accusations, the Sharif family should set the right example by addressing Ahad’s grievances.

We urge both parties to come clean on the allegations levelled against them and avoid mudslinging and personal attacks. It is saddening to see how political leaders are using women’s grievances linked to patriarchal structures of power in politics and society as a tool to pull each other down. This just goes to show how ugly the campaign for upcoming elections will be. *

Published in Daily Times, August 7^th 2017.