Yesterday, Pakistani journalist Ansar Abbasi became a subject of ridicule after he objected to a women’s exercise session broadcast on Pakistan Television Network. He was so offended by a video of an exercising routine that he ended up tagging Imran Khan, Asim Bajwa and Shibli Faraz in his tweet.
Netizens schooled Ansar Abbasi about how everything about women is not an innuendo, and nor should it be turned into one.
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In a tweet, Ansar Abbasi posted the ‘questionable content’ mentioning Prime Minister Imran Khan, Senator Shibli Faraz, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting, Asim Saleem Bajwa.
Mr PM @ImranKhanPTI this is PTV. @AsimSBajwa @shiblifaraz pic.twitter.com/hpoTxEF4TJ
— Ansar Abbasi (@AnsarAAbbasi) September 21, 2020
That’s when many others from the Pakistani journalist community asked what the big deal was. They even suggested that Ansar take a more progressive perspective towards things.
Yes IK please see that only the Woman is working out and the man is not , it’s unhealthy. They both should work out.. 🤦♀️ https://t.co/Dw0QfETseP
— Rabia Anum Obaid (@RabiaAnumm) September 22, 2020
The way I see it, PTV is teaching women basic home work out routine so they can take care of their health. https://t.co/iuPt1ubdlw
— Maria Memon (@Maria_Memon) September 21, 2020
https://twitter.com/marvisirmed/status/1308084626380988416
People suggested that if something as generic as a women’s workout is offensive to the journalist, then he has the liberty to avoid watching television.
Some expressed concern about his mental well-being, advising Mr Abbasi to see a therapist.
https://twitter.com/NidaKirmani/status/1308080436988518400
Even a government minister chimed in:
https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1308258861384634369?s=20
What’s wrong here?
What exactly is wrong with women learning to take care of their health through a public medium created for mass information like PTV?
https://twitter.com/sania_akhan/status/1308130350359609344
https://twitter.com/atir_mumtaz/status/1308120933559918593
https://twitter.com/amchaudary/status/1308120744757473281
On a serious note, netizens pointed out exactly what’s wrong with objectifying women, especially in the midst of something as ordinary as a workout. Normalizing such behavior and attitudes is what normalizes violent crimes against women like rape.
https://twitter.com/hamnazubair/status/1308146721902530562?s=21
https://twitter.com/alinashigri/status/1308261291648315393?s=21
https://twitter.com/ammarrashidt/status/1308084303662927879?s=21
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However, there were some harsh comments or rather suggestive jokes.
https://twitter.com/emmad81/status/1308076286124978179?s=21
https://twitter.com/sohnianika/status/1308103497670422532?s=21
Someone even suggested that given how some people are too old to evolve and be better, we just let them live out the remainder of their lives in peace.
https://twitter.com/benazirmirsamad/status/1308131016503177216?s=21
Do you think its time for Ansar Abbasi to stop playing the moral police? Or does he have something against exercise? Let us know in the comments below.
