The interior minister most recently said that the government would provide security to all lawmakers ahead of the no-confidence vote except for Bilawal Bhutto, who he said was likely 'rip off his own clothes' and go to the police station to register a first information report (FIR) against him [Sheikh Rashid].
"This below the belt and insinuating conversation must be condemned by everyone. Certainly unbecoming of an Interior Minister" said one lawyer on social media.
https://twitter.com/Pansota1/status/1503098650284765196?s=20&t=4nvToS65U4PfU1lCl_-K9g
Others pointed out that the interior minister was reinforcing toxic and patriarchal versions of masculinity through his remarks.
https://twitter.com/iamhafeeezgirl/status/1503330259948744710
https://twitter.com/Haideriyamm/status/1503288226190082051
"He used to make these abusive “jokes” about [Benazir Bhutto] too … imagine making fun of security of the only political leader who has the guts to speak against terrorism and who’s lost his mother to terrorism" wrote another commentator.
https://twitter.com/gabeeno/status/1503196209262911488
In another interview, Sheikh Rashid had told reporters not to ask him about Bilawal, because "he is like a daughter to me".
https://twitter.com/realusmanbutt1/status/1502676934186184716
In 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan also took a swipe at Bilawal Bhutto, calling him sahiba (Miss.). "I have come forward after a lot of struggle unlike Bilawal Bhutto Sahiba," the prime minister had said during a speech.
The intensifying rhetoric from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) comes as the opposition gains steam on the no-confidence motion against the prime minister, scheduled for later this month.