PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan over his statement wherein he said men are “tempted” when women wear less clothes. Hence, it leads to a rise in sexual violence in the society, he said.
“Imran Khan’s statement is reflection of a criminal mindset. He has revealed his shallow thinking to the nation,” said Maryam, referring to the premier during a press conference in Lahore on Wednesday.
The PML-N leader said that Pakistan needed freedom from the mentality that held the victim of a violent incident responsible.
“What about the little children that are sexually abused? Are they subjected to it [sexual violence] because of their dressing?” she asked.
Maryam said the prime minister “should be ashamed of his statement”.
The PML-N leader accused PM Khan of insulting rape victims, adding that his words would add insult to injury of parents of the victims of these tragedies.
“They will be ashamed as you (prime minister) have held them responsible,” she said.
When asked about her father’s return, Maryam said she would call him back to the country instantly if she is guaranteed that Nawaz Sharif’s life would not be in danger.
Taking a jibe at the government, she said the fourth finance minister of the incumbent regime had presented its third federal budget. She condemned the Lahore bomb blast and paid tribute to the police for sacrificing their lives in the line of duty.
What did PM Imran Khan say on rising cases of rape, sexual violence?
In an interview with Axios’s Johnathan Swan, PM Imran Khan had said: “If a woman is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on men …. Unless they’re robots. I mean, it’s common sense.”
“Yes, but will it really provoke acts of sexual violence?” asked Swan.
“It depends which society you live in,” answered PM Imran Khan. “If in a society, people haven’t seen that sort of a thing, it will have an impact on them,” he added.
He had brushed off accusations against him of rape victim blaming as “nonsense” and said the concept of purdah was meant to avoid temptation in society.
“We don’t have discos here, we don’t have nightclubs, so it is a completely different society, the way of life here, so if you raise temptation in the society to the point and all these young guys have nowhere to go, it has consequences in the society,” PM Khan had said.
‘Dressing and rape, sexual abuse has nothing to do with each other’
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had said a day earlier that clothes a woman wears or the way she dresses has nothing to do with the sexual violence she is subjected to.
Speaking to the media at the Parliament on Tuesday, the PPP chairman said the prime minister’s remarks were “disappointing”. Bilawal called on people to stand by victims of rape and sexual abuse.
“Such crimes should not be linked to a single cause… the clothes of a person have no link with rape or abuse,” he said.
Bilawal delved into the prime minister’s statement, stressing that the law for those found guilty of sexual abuse and rape should be the same.
“Imran Khan’s statements before and after coming into power are different …. He was a coward since day one,” said the PPP leader.
‘Men are not robots ’ – PM Imran speaks about impact of women wearing ‘very few clothes’
