Sindh opposition leader apologises to women lawmakers

Sindh Assembly Opposition Leader Ali Khursheedi apologised to women lawmakers during the provincial assembly session after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members objected to remarks he had made about women in the previous sitting.

The issue was raised by PPP lawmaker Sadia Javed through a calling-attention notice. She said the opposition leader had made remarks concerning women during the previous session.

Javed strongly condemned the language used in the remarks. She said women lawmakers considered the comments inappropriate and demanded that the opposition leader clarify his position.

PPP lawmaker Samita Afzal also criticised the remarks. She described the words used by Khursheedi as regrettable and said he should apologise to the women members of the assembly.

The matter led to a discussion in the house, with PPP lawmakers pressing the opposition leader to withdraw or apologise for his comments.

Responding to the criticism, Khursheedi said he respected all women members of the Sindh Assembly and considered them his sisters.

“All women sitting in this house are my sisters,” he said.

The opposition leader added that there was no issue with a brother apologising to his sisters.“If a brother apologises to his sisters, what is the problem?” he remarked.

Khursheedi then offered an apology to the women lawmakers.His apology brought the matter to a close, with the opposition leader maintaining that he held the women members of the assembly in respect.