Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) on Wednesday underscored the need to protect the dignity and integrity of women, especially women parliamentarians who are viewed as role models.

“Repercussions of casting shadows on their reputation are far reaching because negative reporting erects barriers to women’s socio-economic and political advancement,” the WPC said in a statement while taking strong notice of the matter of MNA Ayesha Gulalai’s alleged harassment allegations against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.

The working council of the WPC under the chairpersonship of the WPC secretary discussed this matter in detail and it was unanimously decided that the issue calls for an unbiased, thorough and transparent investigation.

Members Working Council also, collectively agreed that the media, both electronic and print, as well as social media need to be careful in reporting such matters as they tend to cause irreparable damage to women’s empowerment.

It was further emphasized that the mud-slinging must be stopped on female parliamentarians and any issues must be dealt with more articulately and in a dignified manner, otherwise such behaviors tend to perpetuate stereo-typical mindsets towards honorable women parliamentarians, as this will close doors for those women who are aiming to stepping into politic and this need to discouraged at all costs, Caucus members said collectively.

Hanif Abbasi: Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi on Wednesday demanded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan to present his BlackBerry mobile phone for investigation into Ayesha Gulalai’s allegations.

Talking to the media in Islamabad, Hanif Abbasi appreciated Ayesha Gulalai for revealing the “real face” of the PTI chief and asked Imran Khan to apologise to the nation. He lashed out at Imran Khan, saying that he “doesn’t think that harassing a woman is wrong due to the ‘western’ culture in which he was brought up”.

“There is no further section of the constitution which was not violated by the PTI chief.” Calling Gulalai his sister, Hanif Abbasi pledged to stand by her. He further said, “If there will be no probe into the accusation then we will think that there is no justice in the country.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Ayesha Gulalai alleged that the honour of PTI female members is not safe from PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his “gang”. She said that Imran Khan sent ‘indecent’ text messages to female members of the party.

She revealed that the first message she received from Imran Khan was in October 2013 and many other female members also received those messages. She said that Imran Khan keeps BlackBerry phone and asks female members of the party to also carry BlackBerry so that messages couldn’t be traced.

Published in Daily Times, August 3^nd 2017.