PM Imran passes 'sexist' remarks against Bilawal, calls him 'Sahiba'

Comes under fire on social media

PHOTO: FILE

Prime Minister Imran Khan passed on Wednesday sexist remarks against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, calling him ‘Sahiba’ during an address in South Waziristan.

“I came into power through struggle and hard work unlike Bilawal 'Sahiba' (miss) who, using the will of her mother became the head of political party,” he said at the public gathering.



Sahiba is a title in Urdu which means miss or madam.

Minutes after the premier's remarks, social media users from different walks of life including Bilawal slammed the prime minister for his statement.

"What was that about small men in big offices? ," the PPP chairman tweeted.



Former defence minister Khawaja Asif also reacted to the premier's statement, saying "this is his real language".




Journalist Asma Shirazi deplored the PM's statement and termed it "poor and misogynist".



While TV anchor Meher Bokhari called PM Imran's remarks "a new low", BBC's Secunder Kermani termed it an insult to the opposition leader.

There seemed to be some support for the prime minister, however. A few termed the remarks a mere slip of tongue.





Human rights minister Shireen Mazari also tweeted in favour of her party leader, saying "How convenient to accept some slip of tongues and not others!".