Prime Minister Imran Khan in an interview with “Axios on HBO” with journalist Jonathan Swan, which aired on 21st June, said that “if a woman is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on the men unless they are robots” which has sparked outrage not only in Pakistan but globally as well.
When journalist Swan asked PM Khan about his earlier remarks on vulgarity and rape in Pakistan, PM said that it is “such nonsense”.
“I said that the concept of purdah avoids temptation in society. We don’t have discos here, we don’t have nightclubs, so it is a completely different society, and 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.”
Swan further asked: “Do you think that what women wear has any effect, that’s part of this temptation?”
“If a woman is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on the men, unless they are robots. I mean it’s common sense,” replied PM.
His words regarding women’s clothing weren’t taken lightly by Pakistanis, who took to social media platforms to inform the honorable prime minister that the act of assault, rape, and harassment has nothing to do with a woman’s dressing. His words even made it to the international TV channels and even his former wife, Jemima Goldsmith, has criticized him for his insensitive remarks.
Jemima stated that the problem is not how women dress!
Jibran Nasir request Prime Minister Imran Khan to stop objectifying victims.
Gharidah Farooqi is disgusted with the statement of Imran Khan.
According to Shahmir Sanni, men should be held accountable rather than the way women dresses.
In a country where cases of sexual assaults are not reported, and victims do not come out of the fear of being blamed, it is sad to see that our Prime Minister, Imran Khan is promoting rape culture by propagating dangerous rape myths.