KARACHI: Two scions of the family that controls the ruling party of Sindh — Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and his sister Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari — have taken notice of the controversial remarks made by provincial Minister for Works and Services Imdad Pitafi that caused a furore in the Sindh Assembly on Friday, with the latter asking the minister to tender an apology for uttering “double-meaning words”.

For his part, the PPP chief asked the leader of his party’s group in the assembly, Nisar Khuhro, to issue a show cause notice to the minister, sources said on Saturday.

However, the woman lawmaker of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), Nusrat Saher Abbasi, who was on the receiving end of the unsavoury remarks, said no apology could make amends for the misogynistic attitude adopted by the PPP minister.

Bakhtawar terms Pitafi’s behaviour ‘absolutely unacceptable’

The unseemly incident took place when Ms Abbasi put a question to the minister, only to receive an invitation to his chamber for what he called a “satisfactory reply”.

In a tweet, Bakhtawar termed Mr Pitafi’s behaviour “absolutely unacceptable” and “totally against ethos of our party that has been led by the strongest of women”. “[The minister] must apologise,” she added.

The PPP minister’s remarks sent shockwaves through legislators of the party, particularly the women, who said the remarks were uncalled for.

“Imdad Pitafi’s derogatory words against Nusrat Abbasi in Sindh Assembly are unacceptable. He must be made to apologise 2 the house & 2 the MPA,” MNA Nafisa Shah said in a tweet.

Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, a colleague of Ms Abbasi in the PML-F as well as in the provincial assembly, said the minister should have exercised caution while making remarks on the floor of the house. She said he should apologise in order to resolve the problem.

In a statement, Mr Pitafi said he had already apologised for his mistake. “I will apologise again on the floor of the house and will accept whatever party leadership asks me to do.”

Ms Abbasi, however, said: “No apology from him is acceptable.... Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari [should] get him stripped of his ministry and membership of the assembly.”

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2017