Women in Pakistani politics — an easy target
While women were an active part of the Pakistan movement, female participation in politics first became prominent in the country in 1965 when Fatima Jinnah contested elections as a rival to General Ayub Khan. It was during these polls that misogyny was first used as a political tool. A female dog dressed in a scarf and a lantern around its neck was paraded around the streets of Karachi and Gujrawala as supporters of Gen Ayub portrayed it as a representation of Fatima Jinnah running her campaign.
Similarly, in the 1988 elections, it is believed that supporters of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader, Nawaz Sharif, dropped doctored photos of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders, Benazir Bhutto and Nusrat Bhutto, from helicopters across the country. While personal attacks on politicians are quite common in Pakistan, it is only female politicians that are insulted solely based on their gender. An example of this is Pakistan’s first female Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, being made the subject of slogans such as “coca cola pepsi, Benazir Taxi” (Taxi being an urban reference to sex work). Founder and leader of Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rashid, famously called Benazir “Yellow Taxi”. It is worth noting here that no other male politician in the country has been made the subject of such demeaning and vulgar slogans.
With the ongoing hyper polarization of politics in the country there has been an increase in personal attacks on politicians such as the use of derogatory nick-names and indecent slurs for prominent political leaders. Women, however, have had to face the worst impact of this recent political development. From the Defence Minister, Khwaja Asif, calling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s Shireen Mazari ‘tractor trolley’ to PPP’s Sharmila Faruqi taking a dig at PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz for being indecent (for choosing to elope with her husband)— respect for women in politics is a rare find in Pakistan’s current political arena.
Following are some recent incidents that highlight the sharp increase of misogyny and sexism in Pakistani politics:
Maryam Nawaz
PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz has been at the brunt of many inappropriate and misogynist remarks lately.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Maryam Nawaz Sharif might annoy her husband the way she repeats his name during her political speeches. "Someone sent me a clip of Maryam's speech... Maryam took my name repeatedly so passionately that she should be careful… it might annoy her husband," Khan remarked
Ever since social media has become vital in the political status quo, sexist remarks have taken shape of viral trends on Twitter. In 2019, one of the top trends launched by PTI on Twitter was “r*****i in mandi” (hooker in the red-light area) when Maryam Nawaz addressed a rally in Mandi Bahauddin. In 2020, when she was addressing another rally the trend on Twitter was “Raiwand ki R******i” (sex worker of Raiwand).
Maryam Nawaz is also often trolled for a myriad of absurd reasons from her relationship with her husband to her choice of clothing. While certainly a number of male politicians wear expensive and branded clothing, their clothes are never a subject of discussion simply because of the privilege afforded by their gender.
Hina Rabbani Khar
Former PTI minister Fawad Chaudhry recently described the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar as a “low-IQ woman” and as someone whose claim to fame lay in her personal accessories, including her handbag and sunglasses.
Despite Khar’s qualifications and experience in politics her IQ was judged based on her choice of clothing simply because she is a woman. It is not wrong to criticize a female politician, however, it is extremely unfair if the critique is based on trivial things such as clothing items rather than actual politics.
Being a woman is often made out to be an insult in itself in the country’s political discourse. Former Chief Minister of Punjab Pervaiz Elahi asked women MPAs to present his political opponent Hamza Shehbaz with a vanity kit, hinting that anyone who uses beauty products associated with women is a weak political candidate by default.
Firdous Ashiq Awan
PML(N) leader Tallal Chaudhary famously called Firdous Ashiq Awan “a man,” while being interviewed by a reporter. He further stated that she will turn into “Firdous Khan if she washes her face.” Such comments prove that a woman in Pakistani politics can never be safe from sexist comments. Being too feminine lands you in trouble as was seen in the case of Maryam Nawaz but even the other way around, women can be ridiculed for resembling men.
Bushra Bibi Khan
Former first lady of Pakistan and the wife of PTI leader Imran Khan has faced immense criticism. From being ridiculed for choosing to marry Khan to being accused of witch craft, Bushra Bibi has been made the subject of many sexist remarks over the last few years.
Recently a clip of PML-N member Rana Tanveer Hussain has gone viral on social media for his vulgar remarks on the former first lady. On the floor of the National Assembly, Rana Tanveer took a jab at Imran Khan by ridiculing his wife for “running away” with Khan and being immoral.
Defence Minister, Khwaja Asif, cheered him on as Rana Tanveer continued to insult Imran Khan now by commenting on his mother’s character and calling her immoral for giving birth to Khan who in the words of Tanveer is of "illegitimate birth".
Being women or being associated with a woman has turned into an insult in the world of Pakistani Politics. This is clear in the case of PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who has repeatedly been referred to as “Sahiba” or “Bibi” (both terms used to address women) as an insult.