LAHORE: Former federal minister Muhammad Ali Durrani has termed President Asif Ali Zardari’s remarks that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan is “crying like women” in jail, regrettable.

“The [President Zardari’s] statement undermines the political struggle and courage of Pakistani women,” Durrani said in a statement here on Tuesday.

He said the comments insulted the legacy and political contributions of brave women leaders, including Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz.

He urged the president to withdraw the “sexist” remarks and apologise to women across the country.

He said Pakistani women politicians had written unparalleled stories of struggle and courage, stepping forward at times when many prominent male leaders were absent from the field. Durrani said the country’s mothers, sisters and daughters were examples of determination and resilience in society.

He said that the language used by President Zardari neither reflected Baloch traditions, nor befitted his constitutional office, which symbolises the federation.

Referring to reconciliation efforts, Durrani said if President Zardari played a conciliatory role given Imran Khan’s health condition on the direction of the PPP chairman, it would be in line with the party policy promoting political reconciliation.

He said the government should fulfill its responsibility on its own by providing the best possible treatment to Imran and shifting him to whichever hospital he required.

He stressed that illness should not be politicised, adding that the recent change in the government’s stance and approach on the matter of Imran’s health is a positive development.

Durrani further said that going abroad for medical treatment should not be termed a political deal, as providing treatment to any patient on humanitarian grounds is the government’s legal obligation, and the matter should neither be mocked nor described as a deal.

He added that Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and his sons should be consulted regarding his treatment decisions. He said the PTI founder’s family and party members should also refrain from doing politics on the issue.

“Sending a patient abroad for treatment should not be portrayed as a political deal,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026