PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi prioritizes women’s clothing concerns during Standing Committee Meeting
Afridi objected to a woman’s attire during a meeting of a National Assembly standing committee on Friday, drawing treasury members’ ire.
PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi emerged to be more concerned about women’s clothing while attending a National Assembly Standing Committee on Power meeting on Friday.
It should be reminded to the lawmaker that his job is not policing women’s clothes. Such objections reflect the conservative and patriarchal mindsets of society.
PTI MNA has been called out on various platforms as he expressed concern over the attire of a female K-Electric representative at a National Assembly committee meeting on power.
On Friday, after a meeting of the Standing Committee on Power, where K-Electric was invited to discuss power generation and load-shedding, the NA-27 Khyber representative made an absurd comment about the female K-Electric official’s outfit.
According to the news source, Afridi had waited until the K-Electric team had left before criticizing the woman’s clothing as inappropriate and suggesting that a dress code should be established for committee meetings.
The session, which was addressing important power sector issues, was interrupted by Afridi’s remarks.
He argued that there should be Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) governing the dress code for official meetings, asserting that the attire of the K-Electric representative did not meet the decorum expected in such a setting.
Afridi contended that adhering to a dress code would help maintain the seriousness of discussions and avoid distractions.
His comments elicited mixed reactions within the committee, with Chairman Mohammad Idrees rejecting Afridi’s remarks and apologizing to the female participant for the unnecessary distraction.
Following the incident, the X-platform timeline is blowing up with criticism for PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi.
KE’s Sadia Dada attending NA Standing Committee meeting after which she was criticised by PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi for her attire. Iqbal should apologise, this attitude is harassment, bullying. Nobody has the right to discuss women’s dressing. pic.twitter.com/Ta2zNAc15s
— Shahbaz Zahid (@shahbazzahid) August 16, 2024
Sindh govt spokesman condemns PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi’s remarks on attire worn by invited female guest to NA Committee hearing – says the PTI should make its MNA apologise pic.twitter.com/rUfyg6fJpo
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) August 16, 2024
Shame on PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi!!!
— Mona Alam (@MonaAlamm) August 16, 2024
Only a pervert mind would concentrate on a woman’s dressing in a serious, agenda-driven meeting. https://t.co/qVXvvjfG4M
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has condemned the harassment of a woman during the NA panel meeting.
Tarrar criticised the PTI, stating that it has become an “Injustice Movement” for women and emphasised that harassment of any kind was unacceptable.
He also called for action against Afridi, asserting that his party membership should be suspended because of his comments.
“Women in society already face numerous challenges and this incident highlights the rising fascism in the PTI,” the information minister said.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also condemned Afridi’s objection to the attire of a female representative.
In a post on X, she described such remarks as “regrettable and unacceptable,” stating that the woman likely earned her position based on her qualifications and capabilities.
What gives this MNA the right to critique a professional woman's clothes ? Who made him policeman of women's dress codes? Instead of focusing on key issues central to the NA Standing Committee on Power he has made sure the headline on today's mtg is not about solving the energy… pic.twitter.com/Jr8DLa8gZv
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) August 16, 2024
