Her stinging words came in response to a slap that a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member Waheeda Shah Bukhari administered to a polling agent during the by-election in Tando Mohammad Khan a day earlier. Bukhari was elected an MPA but there has been an outcry over her outbreak of violence.
The slap was caught on television and broadcast across the country.
Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza interrupted Rashdi to say that the case has gone to court and an inquiry has been initiated. “You cannot further comment on the issue,” Raza said while signalling to the assembly’s staff to switch off Rashdi’s microphone. A few PPP MPAs stood up to defend their party’s MPA, but they did not get permission to speak. Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA Faisal Subzwari said that this kind of thing should be stopped.
Tribute to Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
The house unanimously adopted a resolution paying tribute to Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy for winning an Oscar award for her documentary “Saving Face”. In their resolution they said that the documentary has not only created awareness about this heinous menace, but has won Pakistan its first Oscar Award.
They said that the prime minister has announced the highest civil award for her, but they emphasised that the Sindh government should give her a reception upon her return to Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2012.
COMMENTS (8)
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shamless ppp mpas showing support for a thug soon they will cry victimisation and say she is a ppp martyr
Waheeda Bukhari should be prosecuted for the criminal offense of assault and if found guilty, given maximum punishment allowed under the law. As a convict, she will not be bale to hold or seek any public position. I support Ms. Rashdi's point of view. I urge Ms. Rashdi and others -- from all walks of life and political parties -- not to let this issue die without the due process taking its course. It's also a challenge for the newly-liberated Election Commission of Pakistan. ECP must not take pressure from the PPP to let the matter go; otherwise, people of Pakistan will lose faith in it. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
The Dy.speaker Shehla Reza's action clearly said it all - we look after our own. It makes sense because if you do not, tomorrow ' your own ' will come after you and then what will you do.
Isnt it better first to find out why she slapped her?
Just disqualify to her from MPA seat.
Created awareness? created awareness!?! Were you ignorant of this fact till it went international?!!
Just how stupid and ignorant are these people anyway??
Waheeda Bukhari who administered the slap should be charged with assault and jailed to send a message that such loutish behaviour will not be tolerated.
Waheeda Bukhari should apologize and then step down - that would be the normal thing to do in any other country. Since it is highly unlikely that she will step down voluntarily, she should be censured and then stripped of her office. Her behavior was reprehensible. In this particular instance, the Supreme Court did the right thing by stepping into the matter. I watched the video and felt very sorry for the poor lady who was crying after being slapped by this woman.