KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to its leader Nabeel Gabol for making an insensitive comment about rape in a podcast.

The notice issued by PPP Sindh president Nisar Khuhro asked Mr Gabol to explain his remarks within three days. In case of non-clarification, it added, organisational disciplinary action will be taken against him.

“Inappropriate conversation and use of un-parliamentary words are not the policy of PPP,” according to a spokesperson for the party.

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In the video of the podcast, which went viral on social media, Mr Gabol used the example of rape to talk about being overpowered by the opposition and said some seriously disturbing things like “when rape is imminent, just enjoy it”.

He casually mentioned in another podcast that he picks women he admires.

Netizens, human rights activists and lawmakers all condemned the statement, calling it shameful and insensitive.

Human rights activist and lawyer Nighat Dad, Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, author Fatima Bhutto and artist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took to Twitter to voice their disgust, calling the rhetoric “repulsive” and “sick”.

PPP’s information secretary MNA Shazia Marri tweeted that Mr Gabol’s remarks were “totally unacceptable”.

Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari tweeted: “His [repulsive] rhetoric belongs to him as an individual only and is in no way a representation of our party [PPP]. In case it wasn’t already abundantly obvious, we absolutely and unequivocally stand for the rights and protection of women. Misogyny has no place in our religion nor our party.”

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2023