KARACHI, Aug 27: Women legislators of the Pakistan People’s Party have condemned Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim’s derogatory remarks about women and have demanded an unconditional apology.

Terming his comments narrow-minded, not only extremely offensive to the people of Sindh and Pakistan but also in violation of Articles 34, 25(2) and 5(2) of the constitution, Sindh Assembly MPAs appealed to the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of such prejudice and verbal harassment.

Addressing on Monday a press conference held in the Sindh Assembly building in the chamber of the leader of opposition, Shazia Marri, Dr Sharfunnisa Leghari, Shama Mithani, Saira Shaliani, and PPP leader Farzana Baloch said that such an atrocious attitude towards women by a person imposed on Sindh further exposed this intolerant regime which outwardly professes women’s emancipation.

They said that the women of Pakistan take pride in courageous leaders such as Fatima Jinnah, Nusrat and Benazir Bhutto and many others, while bigots like Mr Rahim carry on trampling upon the image of Pakistan.“Arbab Rahim is the head of the ruling PML-Q in Sindh and is also the chief minister.

He follows the policies of the government and his actions show the true and twisted intent of the regime,” pointed out the legislators, calling upon female MPAs of the ruling coalition to also condemn the chief minister since his remarks are an insult to all Pakistani women, 52 per cent of the population.

Shazia Marri said that they have submitted a resolution to the secretary of the provincial assembly under rule 102 of the rules of procedure, demanding that the chief minister tender an unconditional apology for the misogynistic remarks he made in Thatta on Aug 26.

Dr Sharfunnisa Leghari claimed that in 1994, during the PPP government, Mr Rahim used to beg Ms Bhutto to make him parliamentary secretary, adding that the chief minister should be ashamed of having uttered the words he did.

Similarly, Shama Mithani said that since he is the chief executive of the province, his remarks constitute a black mark on the province’s record since it violates Sindh’s traditions to respect women.