Pakistan PM criticised for comments on sexual violence

Imran Khan's comments drew nationwide condemnation from human rights activists and the nation's opposition, which sought an apology. photo credit score: AP

ISLAMABAD: top Minister Imran Khan faced growing criticism at home after seemingly blaming an increase in sexual violence in Pakistan on women wearing "very few clothing."

His feedback drew nationwide condemnation from human rights activists and the nation's opposition, which sought an apology. The controversial statements aired over the weekend came in an interview on Axios, a documentary news series on HBO.

"If a woman is wearing only a few clothing it'll have an have an effect on, it's going to have an impact on the men, unless they're robots," the leading minister observed. "I mean it's standard sense."

asked at once with the aid of interviewer Jonathan Swan even if the manner that women dress may provoke acts of sexual violence, Khan noted: "It is dependent upon which society you live in. If in a society where people haven't considered that type of aspect, it'll have an impact on them."

It became the second time in two months that Khan sparked outrage after suggesting that ladies's attire performs a job in provoking sexual violence against them.

In April, in an internet show on state-run Pakistan tv, Khan claimed that donning a veil — the common head protecting worn by using Muslim ladies — would protect women from sexual assault.

Khan's govt has confronted criticism over its failure to curb sexual assaults on ladies considering that he got here into power via profitable an easy majority in parliamentary elections in 2018.

Pakistan has been rocked through excessive-profile sexual assaults, including closing September when a woman become gang-raped in entrance of her children after her vehicle broke down on a major throughway at nighttime close Lahore.

Sexual harassment and violence towards women is not amazing in Pakistan. basically 1,000 ladies are killed in Pakistan each and every year in so-referred to as "honour killings" for allegedly violating conservative norms on love and marriage.

The weekend interview with Khan in Islamabad covered a big range of concerns, however his feedback apparently linking how ladies dress to sexual violence garnered by far the most consideration. the former cricket superstar drew huge criticism on social media from each civil rights groups and universal Pakistanis.

"shame on You," Pakistani lady Frieha Altaf talked about on Twitter.

Marriyum Aurrangzeb, spokeswoman for the opposition Pakistan Muslim League party, condemned Khan on Twitter for his remarks.

"the area obtained an insight into a approach of a ailing, misogynistic, degenerate & derelict IK (Imran Khan). Its not ladies's selections that lead to sexual assault rather the decisions of men who decide to engage in this despicable and vile CRIME,'' she noted.

despite the fact, female lawmakers from Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf birthday party defended the prime minister, announcing his feedback had been taken out of context, devoid of elaborating.

Zartaj Gul, the minister for climate exchange, noted at a news convention Tuesday "our way of life and our means of dressing is idealised internationally," referring to conservative norms of dressing in Pakistan.