Pakistani politics, on many occasions, have resorted to cheap shots by cracking sexist ‘jokes’. However, Aamir Liaquat’s recent joke has Netizens furious, and no one’s laughing. Member of National Assembly (MNA) Aamir Liaquat thought it would be funny to make a joke about sexual harassment.
Of course, the ‘joke’ is being slammed as sexist and insensitive.
Earlier this week, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had to postpone its long march, scheduled for late March, aimed at toppling the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The postponement came amid disagreements within the 10-party opposition alliance.
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So, Aamir Liaquat made a joke that the only way to topple the PTI government would be to falsely accuse a party leader of sexual harassment. Obviously, that sparked outrage on social media.
“There is only one scenario in which PPP can topple the government and that is if [PPP chairperson] Bilawal tears his clothes and accuses Sheikh Rasheed [PTI minister] of sexual harassment.”
https://twitter.com/AamirLiaquat/status/1372511345988530176
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto is often targeted in sexist jokes by opposing politicians, for not fitting a traditional male archetype. However, the sexism aimed at the young leader is not what sparked the most outrage.
People called out how ‘any normal human being with a semblance of decency’ would not joke about rape and sexual harassment, especially over petty politics.
Everytime I think this is the lowest this man can go. But somehow this man proves me wrong and stoop lower https://t.co/DDvR0kKKNL
— ebad fly (@ebadrehman2k) March 18, 2021
https://twitter.com/royalatwork/status/1372832480898772994
Aamir Liaquat continues to make rape centric and sexist remarks in the garb of ‘humor’, targeting male and females figures in society. It is beyond understanding how and why @ImranKhanPTI continues to let him to do this and nobody in the PTI has muzzled him for this. https://t.co/NzBLCuzTnx
— Omer Azhar (@OmerAzhar96) March 18, 2021
Humor is used to normalize things, as it removess discomfort around subjects. The last thing Pakistan needs is to normalize sexual crimes. Additionally jokes like this reduce the very real problem of ‘harassment’ to a ‘fake cry wolf‘.
Did he just made a joke on “Rape”!! A member of National Assembly is making a rape joke. He should be literally fired from his position.
Why does this man thinks it’s funny to accuse someone of rape? https://t.co/OHEG9CQTv7— خراب عورت (@KharabAurat) March 18, 2021
Sexual assault and rape jokes aren’t funny…when you joke about it , you normalise it making it sound like it isn’t a big deal … sexist jokes are also not funny … when you make sexist jokes you tell the world once again that you are a sexist freak. https://t.co/EeRwEUgDn7
— Meena Gabeena (@gabeeno) March 18, 2021
https://twitter.com/heydoolie/status/1372627289385615366
I feel ashamed that I voted for PTI twice when I read stuff like this from MNA @AamirLiaquat . How can we normalise this shit ? Aur kitna giro gey ? https://t.co/ThhIb9kmG5
— Salman Bangash (@SalmaanBabar) March 19, 2021
Harassment and sexual violence are not a joke.
Of course, one doesnt expect trash to understand that 🤷♀️ https://t.co/eDQnQYhCWb
— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) March 18, 2021
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The Karachi-based MNA’s problematic jokes span from casual sexism to mocking religion and even making jokes about the deceased. People questioned how the PTI continues to brush this off.
You endorse this or have you not got the *courage* to ask him to resign@fawadchaudhry https://t.co/oFu5yvVM8R
— . (@fatah_pak) March 19, 2021
How do all of us get out of bed every morning knowing that a person like Aamir Liaquat Hussain can actually become an MNA (more than once!) in this country?
— Nida Kirmani (@NidaKirmani) March 18, 2021
https://twitter.com/Junaidmumtaz/status/1372822501277982723
Why don't @ImranKhanPTI expell such disgusting people out of party https://t.co/6tuEC0GbZ6
— Babar 🌠 (@Babarr1_) March 19, 2021
Wow wow! This man is member of National Assembly and is labelled as an asset by @PTIofficial ! Amir liaqat at its best, one minute down, next minute more down. Can the top leadership of ruling party along with our HR minister @ShireenMazari1 take notice of this bullshit? https://t.co/6vVNVkooDI
— Waقar✨ (@Waqar__Murtaza) March 19, 2021
Even if the politician apologizes after the current backlash, this wouldn’t be the first time. Netizens pointed out that apologies for repeated offences mean the guilty individual has made no attempt to be better.
https://twitter.com/daikhajayega/status/1372584948117479427
https://twitter.com/SohaTazz/status/1372563244989227008
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
