Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Rashid Soomro has said that women will not be present at Pakistan Democratic Party (PDM) public meeting in Karachi on Sunday (tomorrow) -- a statement that resulted in an uproar on social media, forcing Pakistan Muslim League - N (PML-N) to issue a clarification.
"It has been decided that women would not attend the jalsa tomorrow," he said, while addressing media during the PDM's pre-jalsa meeting in Karachi. He went on to say that the decision was taken in light of the law and order situation.
The JUI-F leader's statement led to a backlash on social media with a number of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leaders condemning the announcement.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman shard the news piece and wrote, "Is this for real? No women in PDM jalsa? As a policy"
https://twitter.com/sherryrehman/status/1431612141916798979?s=20
PPP MNA Shazia Marri also released a video message condemning the announcement.
https://twitter.com/ShaziaAttaMarri/status/1431626269356081153?s=20
Following the outrage, PML-N leader Ataullah Tarar tweeted that women would be attending the jalsa. "Meeting is still going on but I felt obligated to tweet during the meeting. Women will attend tomorrow's jalsa," he tweeted.
https://twitter.com/TararAttaullah/status/1431637271506161664?s=20
It therefore remains unclear as to whether a decision about women's presence at the jalsa was taken at the meeting, as suggested by Rashid Soomro.
"It has been decided that women would not attend the jalsa tomorrow," he said, while addressing media during the PDM's pre-jalsa meeting in Karachi. He went on to say that the decision was taken in light of the law and order situation.
The JUI-F leader's statement led to a backlash on social media with a number of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leaders condemning the announcement.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman shard the news piece and wrote, "Is this for real? No women in PDM jalsa? As a policy"
https://twitter.com/sherryrehman/status/1431612141916798979?s=20
PPP MNA Shazia Marri also released a video message condemning the announcement.
https://twitter.com/ShaziaAttaMarri/status/1431626269356081153?s=20
Following the outrage, PML-N leader Ataullah Tarar tweeted that women would be attending the jalsa. "Meeting is still going on but I felt obligated to tweet during the meeting. Women will attend tomorrow's jalsa," he tweeted.
https://twitter.com/TararAttaullah/status/1431637271506161664?s=20
It therefore remains unclear as to whether a decision about women's presence at the jalsa was taken at the meeting, as suggested by Rashid Soomro.