Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Shazia Marri condemned remarks made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif regarding women in the National Assembly.
Marri stated that the defence minister delivered "very inappropriate remarks regarding women" during a heated speech on the previous day.
"Yesterday, the defence minister, in the heat of his speech, made very inappropriate remarks about women. I condemn them," Marri said. Shazia Marri urged members of the house to stop using such language against female parliamentarians or any woman in Pakistan. The controversy originated on Thursday when Khawaja Asif questioned JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman in the National Assembly.
Fazlur Rehman had previously mocked Asif for remaining at home while high-level talks took place in Tehran a day before the session. Asif clarified that no defence agreement was being negotiated in Tehran. Khawaja Asif accused Fazlur Rehman of using female lawmakers as a shield.
Asif further asserted that Pakistan would use its full force to defend Saudi Arabia under the Makkah defence pact. This incident follows a 2023 joint session where women parliamentarians strongly protested comments made by Asif about them.
