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Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah in the Punjab Assembly on Friday refused to apologise for his misogynistic remarks about female attendees of a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) rally, prompting the opposition to stage a walk-out from the house.
"I have withdrawn my statement but will not say sorry," Sanaullah said regarding his unsavoury remarks. "I will not even say the first letter 's' of sorry," he added.
Sanaullah, while speaking to reporters outside the Punjab Assembly on Monday, made inappropriate comments about the women who attended the rally at Lahore's Minar-i-Pakistan, saying: "The women who attended the rally were not from honourable families because their dance moves implied where they had actually come from."
Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Mahmoodur Rasheed said that although Sanaullah had withdrawn his statement, he should also apologise.
But PML-N MPA Rana Arshad, among others on the treasury benches, supported Sanaullah, saying that the opposition's demand was uncalled for.
They said that if the provincial law minister was being asked to apologise, the PTI should first apologise to party chief Imran Khan's daughter, and that Khan's BlackBerry cellphone mentioned by MNA Ayesha Gulalai ─ who hurled accusations of harassment via cellphone messages against the PTI chief ─ should be investigated.
The opposition then staged a walk-out after their repeated demands for an apology went unheard.
Although Sanaullah has refused to apologise, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif apologised earlier this week on behalf of his party members amid demands for action against Sanaullah, and federal state ministers Abid Sher Ali and Tallal Chaudhry.
The Punjab government also distanced itself from the derogatory remarks made by Sanaullah, Ali and Chaudhry.
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Comments (56) Closed
May 04, 2018 02:11pm
From his appearance to his manners, from his actions to his words, Rana Sanaullah personifies the malaise that afflicts this unfortunate province.
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May 04, 2018 02:20pm
CJ should take notice
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May 04, 2018 02:22pm
His remarks pertained to a group of "women" who were present at a particular event. Although his remarks are offensive and he must apologize for them but it would be unfair to project his person or group specific remarks to a whole gender and term them as "Misogynistic".
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May 04, 2018 02:22pm
In our country offering an apology is obsolete. I can relate to three incidences.
The apology by Nihal Hashmi which was considered short of reaching its purpose.
The apology of CJP which was worded exactly like Nihal Hashmi's and no one disproved.
And now this interesting one which has also roped in Imran Khan's personal life and his daughter.
Hence as it is evident that the similar apologetic sentences offered by different persons are perceived and deemed quite opposite, there stands no merit in offering an apology after taking a statement back. Based on this logic, what else did you expect in this case scenario?
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May 04, 2018 02:23pm
Time for him to be brought before the courts for disturbing the peace and violation of his oath of office, as Law Minister for Punjab.
The arrogant man clearly has no respect for women, ounce of decency or regard for the law. Time for him to be disqualified from holding any public office. The nation can do without such thugs and hoodluims.
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May 04, 2018 02:24pm
good very good. these women should be allowed to behave as immorally as they please but other people are not allowed to call them what these women actually are doing. he has just stated the obvious
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May 04, 2018 02:25pm
These Nawaz-league crooks want respect for votes but they give NO respect to women, NO respect to judiciary and NO respect to voters. People must see their real faces. Absolutely shameless.
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May 04, 2018 02:32pm
Don't force him to say sorry as a foreceful sorry won't mean anything in its essence. He aleady showed who he is and what type of attitude he is brought up with! Learned habits seldom change!!!
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May 04, 2018 02:34pm
The very sad part of all this is Rana Sanaullah will again be elected by hook or by crook!! This is indeed unfortunate for Pakistan.
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May 04, 2018 02:43pm
I can’t stop laughing.
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May 04, 2018 02:44pm
Rana Sana and CM Panjab Mian Shabaz Sharif got away with Lahore Model Town Massacre. This is something minor for Rana Sana and PML-N.
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May 04, 2018 02:48pm
@AA He has a history of such statements starting from his remarks about Maryam Nawaz in 1993 to his statements against female members of Taseer family in 2010.
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May 04, 2018 03:03pm
The most disgusting person I have ever seen. Wonder how people still support such ill minded persons
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May 04, 2018 03:03pm
@manal your comments say everything about your mindset. One day you will also make it to the 21st century but will take a lot of education.
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May 04, 2018 03:06pm
@manal what business is it of yours how other people behave? Who put you in charge of anything?
your view sum's up why south asia is stuck in the past as regards women's equality.
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May 04, 2018 03:25pm
@AA sounds apologetic in favour of Rana Sana
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May 04, 2018 03:32pm
Persons like Rana Sanaullah, Abid Sher Ali & Tallal Chaudhry etc etc have no moral fiber.
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May 04, 2018 03:34pm
Corrupt to the core, absolutely morally bankrupt and he has the entire administration and the PMLN leadership under control - even Mariam Safdar can not say a word as he may attck her next and again the whole party leadership will look totally spineless.
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May 04, 2018 03:42pm
He does not want to apologise and to be honest there is no point anyway. The man is uncouth by nature and whether he apologises or not it would not make any difference to anyone or his behaviour.
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May 04, 2018 03:50pm
Seems arrogance has overtaken logic in PMLN. From top to bottom save few speaks arrogantly as if they are the owners of Pakistan. Women should not vote for PMLN in the next election unless those responsible for using bad words against women apologises.
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May 04, 2018 03:55pm
There is no remorse or regrets!
How long can a decent society accept such comments!!!???
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May 04, 2018 04:01pm
He obviously does not feel he has said anything wrong ....... a classic example of our ruling class.
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May 04, 2018 04:07pm
Savages and incompetence on all sides - walk out to have another day off - i blame the citizens that voted these idiots into government
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May 04, 2018 04:10pm
The PMLN leadership has apologised. Can't they ask Rana Sanaullah to do the same? Or is he beyond reproach?
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May 04, 2018 04:20pm
Can't believe a person like him is a Law minister.
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May 04, 2018 04:25pm
The most irritating & unlawful person is our law minister ... what an irony ...
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May 04, 2018 04:26pm
This so called law minister MUST have PM backing,that is why he refused to apologise,he is withdrawing his comments,but the damage is done.CJ should take notice and punish him accordingly.NO one should be allowed to belittle anybody whenever they want.Sack him and teach others lesson.
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May 04, 2018 04:36pm
As a politician and representative of people and as law minister,he should be ashamed of what he said.his words says it all about his personality.he and his like minded are not fit to be politician.if it was to have happen in a socialised society and in a democratic society , he would have been fired from being minister and even the party.shame on him, shame on his party he belongs to and shame on those people who will vote and support him.
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May 04, 2018 04:52pm
He is the most corrupt person in the Punjab Govt. CJP should also take notice of this
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May 04, 2018 05:09pm
shameless people shameless attitude
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May 04, 2018 05:32pm
@SkyHawk
Very valid comment. Sadly why you say is for an educated and thinking mind. Thanks to our so called ‘leaders’ majority of our fellow countrymen are neither educated nor thinking - as Hitler once said “What luck for leaders that men don’t think”. Something these jokers seem to have learned and used to their advantage
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May 04, 2018 05:33pm
Model town massacre to mistreating Zainab’s father to unacceptable misogyny to running 10 cars over a boy. Either PML-N regulates its rogue elements or risk losing its stature.
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May 04, 2018 06:05pm
Rana Sanaullah and Shahbaz Sharif are two sides of the coin and Rana is the right hand man of Shahbaz. All the illegal Police action is done via Rana and there is no way that Shahbaz can take any action against him and Rana knows it. CJ needs to take notice. This is the only way in this unfortunate country
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May 04, 2018 06:31pm
It's high time that Chief Minister should sack him from his Ministrial position. It will have good impact on CM.
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May 04, 2018 06:34pm
who is this guy? and what is his job?
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May 04, 2018 06:39pm
Mr. Cheif Minister should discipline him. If he can
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May 04, 2018 06:41pm
Please don't give a bad impression of Pakistani politics all over the world.International Press will ask our PM if he goes abroad.Shameful language. s it your intellectual level.
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May 04, 2018 06:52pm
What a cruel, obnoxious and silly joke?
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May 04, 2018 06:54pm
Representative of the people and Ego!
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May 04, 2018 06:59pm
The law minister meant to say that women are not equal under the law.
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May 04, 2018 07:01pm
Sometimes one needs show maturity and act like an adult. Apologize for the greater good of the country and focus on more pressing issues like poverty, education, commerce, trade and debt servicing. Grow up already politicians!
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May 04, 2018 07:02pm
Why people elect such like characterless personalities. He is a stigma on our society. If he doesn’t have respect for our females than what about his own female members at home? He is a curse on political system as well as Pakistan society.
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May 04, 2018 07:03pm
Is Rana Sanaullah that powerful that even PMLN leadership don’t say a word against him
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May 04, 2018 07:09pm
A person of rana sanaullah type is kept in the party for such purpose how can anyone ask him to apologise. All are same in PMLN
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May 04, 2018 07:30pm
These people have their ego get in the way, only SC CJP can fix their ego.
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May 04, 2018 07:38pm
@Abdulla Hussain
Do you recall IK's comments during dharna? Did he ever apologize? Did he ever resign? In fact he is being credited and given free passage after inciting violence.
Unfortunately, IK started the politics of 'divide and conquer' as his first in-laws were used to doing, and for that 'divide-and-conquer' strategy to be in place he has to ensure people are at loggerheads with each other. Over the course of years he has incited so much hatred that people don't like each other any more, tolerance has diminished and many, after seeing him get away with anything, have similarly become loud-mouthed loudspeakers.
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May 04, 2018 07:48pm
The women who had been called those names should file a petition in LHC based on verbal sexual harassment.
That was the professional thing to do asap. Apologies dont cut it here.
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May 04, 2018 08:03pm
Person with this character will not last one day in civilized societies, fill fired. Him being kep law minister is clearly shows what MPLN stands far.
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May 04, 2018 08:31pm
@manal it is these very attitudes that allows disgusting and shameful people like Sanaullah get elected to rule over us make horrid laws or simply bypass these.
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May 04, 2018 08:45pm
@Dr. Doctor IK speaks truth.
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May 04, 2018 08:53pm
Take him to court and debate him from politics
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May 04, 2018 09:17pm
Shame
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May 04, 2018 10:10pm
Disgraceful and shameless people have no principles and morals, are arrogant and their end result is nothing but 'Zilat' both in this world and hereafter.
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May 04, 2018 11:40pm
@Dr. Doctor : You are absolutely right. Sanity only comes with absolute honesty and these politicians, of any party, are nowhere near honesty.
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May 05, 2018 06:11am
Sorry, no rational way to buy your philosophy!
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May 05, 2018 01:03pm
@Saad Saeed Sherif family has a short memory....
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