Pakistan

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

Comes under fire on social media

News Desk April 24, 2019

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.

Very, very small. Calling Bilawal Bhutto Sahiba (madam) doesn’t belittle him at all. It just demonstrates Imran Khan’s lowness, indecency, and sexism. An insult to the office of the PM.

#PrimeMinisterImranKhan pic.twitter.com/FnrYQZuuz4
— Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) April 24, 2019

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? #PMSelect," the PPP chairman tweeted.

What was that about small men in big offices? #PMSelect
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) April 24, 2019

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

This is his real language...reflect his inner self https://t.co/mqLIDoGNFr
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) April 24, 2019

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

Poor and misogynist statement by pm against @BBhuttoZardari calling him sahiba . We don’t expect this kind of language from anyone and off course PM
— Asma Shirazi (@asmashirazi) April 24, 2019

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.

Here comes another slip of tongue @ajmaljami @yazdanifauzia . Because, we in media in general and PPP leaders within party had always used Shaheed for Bhttos. Pls guys just listen this one. https://t.co/UiMoMQGZwJ
— Khawar Ghumman (@Ghummans) April 24, 2019

Here is another video for my friends calling ⁦@ImranKhanPTI⁩ a misogynist and sexist for what could be a slip of tongue.. pic.twitter.com/qv9g7KPYB0
— Adeel Raja (@adeelraja) April 24, 2019

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!".

How convenient to accept some slip of tongues and not others! Really Mariana a little less bias expected from u! https://t.co/xUNDncR7q5
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) April 24, 2019

COMMENTS (2)

lkhan | 4 years ago | Reply Sad to see PM IK talk like this, hope it was a slip of the tongue... As for BBZ, what a small man he has proven to be.. Disappointing to hear his thoughts, he squeals rather than talk, and utters absolutely NO SUBSTANCE in what he has to say.. NIL... Poor Little Man... he has much to learn... His rude jibes will get rude responses for which he is no match... Such verbal battles do no good for the nation, show poor lowly taste.....

Saleem | 4 years ago | Reply Put you hand on your heart or if you are brave enough on a holy book and ask of yourself how many times you have said this or something similar about Bilawal. Heck his own father's clips are available where he has addressed Bilalwal in feminine tense. Was that a slip of tongue or inside information?

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