"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.