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Pakistani politician Nabil Gabol is under fire for passing a string of misogynistic and disturbing remarks in several interviews. The remarks have been unearthed after his latest stint on the podcast, The Pakistan Experience.
During the conversation, Gabol draws an unruly analogy between sexual assault and political oppression. While doing so, he trivialises rape: “There is a saying in English, ‘If rape is imminent, just enjoy it’.” When the host tells him there is no such saying, he doubles down on his claim, suggesting that it is, in fact, a saying.
“If you’re so helpless that you can endure rape, then just enjoy it,” he maintains. “Otherwise, if you have any shame, you stand your ground and don’t endure it. When we endure it, we get used. How do you get used? I don’t believe in this thing that you have been forced,” Gabol goes on to assert. “If you’re being forced, stand your ground – raise your voice. You can stand against it. What’s the worst that can happen? You’ll go to jail?” adds the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) member.
A Twitter user sharing the clip asked, “Could someone please tell me this politician's name (the one being interviewed?) He's from PPP. Whoever he is, he's got the sickest mind ever. He just said ‘When rape is imminent, just enjoy it.’ What a sick, sick mind. If people like him end up making our policies and laws, rape wouldn't even be deemed a crime. Never heard as filthy a remark as this one.”
Could someone please tell me this politician's name (the one being interviewed?) He's from PPP. Whoever he is, he's got the sickest mind ever. He just said 'When r*pe is imminent, just enjoy it'. What a sick, sick mind. If people like him ended up making our policies & laws, r*pe… pic.twitter.com/6B5rbalMkZ
— Muneeb Qadir (@muneebqadirmmq) April 2, 2023
In a previous podcast shared by another tweep, Gabol can be seen callously asking for famed social media sensation, Ayesha’s (Mera Dil Yeh Pukare Aaja) contact details in a suggestive manner. He then claims he was only testing the host and is a “shareef (innocent)” man.
So few days all the in and out of closet jiyalas were hailing PPP for removing a random sm activist for posting a misogynistic tweet. Here is Nabeel Gabol uttering absolute filth about a woman here, but he won’t be kicked out he will he given MNA ticket pic.twitter.com/ZG35qr3jwV
— Asad Sultan (@AsadSultan18) April 1, 2023
In yet another video that has surfaced, he can be seen claiming that while people of Karachi keep their emotions bottled up to “release them in the bathroom,” people like him “can simply get whomever” they want.
PPP leader Nabeel Gabol bragging about picking up, abducting any girl that he likes, insinuating something that I can't even write here. pic.twitter.com/f7Ujuy74mk
— OSINT Insider (@OSINT_Insider) April 2, 2023
Social media uproar
As a result, Gabol and PPP have been on the receiving end of backlash from many social media users. For instance, Fatima Bhutto took to Twitter to state, “Utter filth. Nabil Gabol exposes the absolute criminal mindset of Sindh’s government. He has done nothing for Lyari, for the people he supposedly represents, and laughs while talking of such violence. Horrendous.”
Utter filth. Nabil Gabol exposes the absolute criminal mindset of Sindh’s government. He has done nothing for Lyari, for the people he supposedly represents, and laughs while talking of such violence. Horrendous. https://t.co/rlRwiNoO6P
— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) April 3, 2023
Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari also took to the microblogging site to state, “His (repulsive) rhetoric belongs to his individual only and is in no way a representation of our party. In case it wasn’t already abundantly obvious – we absolutely and unequivocally stand for the rights and protection of women. Misogyny has no space in our religion, nor our party.”
His (repulsive) rhetoric belongs to his individual only & is in noway a representation of our party. Incase it wasn’t already abundantly obvious- we absolutely & unequivocally stand for the rights & protection of women. Misogyny has no space in our religion nor our party. https://t.co/aFsDF8DjXA
— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) April 3, 2023
Aurat March Karachi tweeted, “We strongly condemn the vile and misogynistic remarks made by former MPA + MNA and current PPP member, Nabil Gabol, whereby he joked about and trivialized rape in the most disgusting manner. We demand that the PPP urgently suspends his membership permanently.”
We strongly condemn the vile and misogynistic remarks made by former MPA + MNA & current @PPP_Org member, Nabil Gabol, whereby he joked about and trivialized rape in the most disgusting manner. We demand that the PPP urgently suspends his membership permanently. @BBhuttoZardari
— Aurat March - عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) April 3, 2023
Actor Nadia Jamil, too, condemned the comments on the micro-blogging site. “Disgusted but not surprised,” she wrote. “My Gabol, wherever you are, rape can never be “enjoyed”. What a terrible thing to say. Demeaning and belittling the anguish, the torn bodies & souls of every raped child, man and woman. Please learn to speak with grace, dignity and kindness, showing more sensitivity”
Disgusted. But not surprised.
— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) April 3, 2023
My Gabol
Wherever you are,rape can never be “enjoyed”. What a terrible thing 2 say.Demeaning & belittling the anguish,the torn bodies & souls of every raped child,man & woman.
Please learn 2 speak w grace,dignity & kindness,showing more sensitivity🙏🏼 https://t.co/ijEGiSBCnk
Actor Adnan Malik wrote in an Insta Story, “Despicable. Not sure if he’s using this as a metaphor or being literal but either way it’s completely unacceptable.”
Gabol’s audacity
The politician, however, did not find anything wrong with what he said. And taking to Twitter in light of the furore, he noted, “I did not know I will get so much attraction and attention for my statement which I quoted from a French novel and if a sensible mind would understand what I said, if rape is imminent, just enjoy it or else standup for the injustice in society, [means] when u can’t raise your voice, then sit quietly and just shut up and enjoy.”
I dint know , i wil get so much attraction and attention on my statment i had quoted frm a french Novel and if a sensible mind would understand wat i said if r…pe is immenent just enjoy it or else standup for the injustice in society, wen u cant raise ur voice and sit quietly…
— Nabil Gabol (@Nabilgabol) April 3, 2023
PPP responds
PPP has now issued a show cause notice to Gabol, demanding an explanation for his statements. “People's Party has issued a show-cause notice to party leader Nabil Gabol for using inappropriate words on private TV. A show cause notice has been issued to Nabil Gabol by PPP Sindh President Nisar Khoro. Nabil Gabol has been directed to explain within three days. Interpreter,” reads a tweet made on its official party handle
پیپلز پارٹی نے پارٹی رہنما نبیل گبول کو نجی ٹی وی پر نامناسب الفاظ ستعمال کرنے پر شوکاز نوٹس جاری کردیا ہے۔
— Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP (@PPP_Org) April 3, 2023
نبیل گبول کو شوکاز نوٹس پی پی پی سندھ کے صدر نثار کھوڑو کی جانب سے جاری کیا گیا ہے۔
نبیل گبول کو 3 دن کے اندر وضاحت کرنے کی ہدایت کی گئی ہے۔ ترجمان
A follow-up tweet adds, “In case of non-clarification, organizational disciplinary action will be taken against Nabil Gabol. Inappropriate conversation and use of unparliamentary words is not the policy of PPP.”
وضاحت نہ کرنے کی صورت میں نبیل گبول کے خلاف تنظیمی نظم و ضبط کی کاروائی عمل میں لائی جائے گی۔ ترجمان
— Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP (@PPP_Org) April 3, 2023
نامناسب گفتگو اور غیر پارلیمانی الفاظ کا استعمال پیپلز پارٹی کی پالیسی نہیں ہے۔ ترجمان
The backlash continues
Several, however, are partaking in the online vitriol against Gabol and the mindset that permeates through society, allowing rapists and rape apologists to roam scot-free. “PPP will fire some random Twitter account holder but give tickets to such scumbags like Nabil Gabol,” stated one Twitter user, highlighting the need for a “massive software update”.
PPP will fire some random twitter account holder but give tickets to such scumbag like Nabil Gabol.
— Anas Tipu (@teepusahab) April 2, 2023
Massive software update needed for Nadir Ali too, ghaleez admi hai yeh bhi. https://t.co/T40FmOMBN4
Another user wrote, "Hum jazbaat dil mein nahi rakhte. Jo pasand aagayi uthaaliya – Nabil Gabol proudly talks about getting women picked up without their consent, asks for the number of a minor kid like a pervert. Yet, he has the audacity to say, ‘You have a dirty mind’ to someone else.”
"Hum jazbaat dil mein nahi rakhte. Jo pasand aagayi uthaaliya"
— Syed Zain Raza (@SydZainRaza) April 2, 2023
Nabil Gabol proudly talks about getting women picked up without their consent, asks for the number of a minor KID like a pervert but yet has the audacity to say "YoU HaVe DiRtY MiNd" to someone else https://t.co/KHhkC8RqQO
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), 5,200 rapes were reported in the country in 2021. The conviction rate in rape cases is less than 3%.
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