Gulalai's allegations against Imran Khan ignite Twitter
The controversy has sparked a heated online debate amid already heightened political tensions.
By Arooj Khalid
Political dramas have unfolded one after the other over the past few days in Pakistan where a new PM was sworn in on Tuesday. However, scathing allegations, involving sending inappropriate text messages, leveled by Ayesha Gulalai against party chief Imran Khan as she bid farewell to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf remained the top news of the day, at times even sidelining the swearing in of the new PM.
Gulalai accused the party leader of sending inappropriate text messages to her and other female party members. Her press conference that was aired close to primetime managed to highlight the issue further with the PTI leaders launching an all-out offensive to counter Gulalai’s allegations.
While there has been support towards her claims, people have also come out demanding proof substantiating her claims. During a press conference, however, she said that the reporters should extract those text message records from the PTA and the truth will lay bare. After the press conference, Twitter has been abuzz with heated debate over the subject with #AyeshaGulalai being the top Twitter trend in Pakistan.
Women have a voice too.Stop silencing them.Proud of women politicians who protest against discrimination & patriarchy. AyeshaGulalai PTI pic.twitter.com/gOUkhO7IU6
— Samar MinAllah Khan (@SamarMinallahKh) August 1, 2017
There are those who have demanded that an investigation into the allegations be carried out. This included PPP’s Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) August 1, 2017
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) August 1, 2017
Amidst the frenzy, the female party workers have come out with a social media campaign to dismiss allegations leveled by Gulalai. Since Tuesday evening, the campaign which largely features women leaders has seen them being vocal about the support they have received within the party.
Respect for women starts with your mother. How many sons have made a SKMH to alleviate the miseries of suffering ppl.PTIEmpowersWomen pic.twitter.com/e2B6t1BRrD
— Dr. Nausheen (@DrNausheenPTI) August 1, 2017
In the wake of the allegations, a press conference was also held by Dr. Shireen Mazari, where she defended Imran Khan by saying that all women were treated with honor and respect in the party, and that the accusations were an attempt to defame the party’s chairman.
The way PTI & @ImranKhanPTI respects,honour and empowers Women with dignity and pride is exemplary for all partiesPTIEmpowersWomen pic.twitter.com/r3ZAh2g1Yn
— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 1, 2017
Other party workers of PTI also supported this claim by trending the hashtag #PTIEmpowersWomen on social media.
Chairman @ImranKhanPTI has full confidence on women and their role in politics. PTIEmpowersWomen pic.twitter.com/eIxpaM0k4S
— PTI Lahore Official (@PTIOfficialLHR) August 1, 2017
While Mazari came down hard on Gulalai following the allegations in her press conference, the support from PMLN quarters also did not settle well with PTI.
As a woman in politics I would rather have no support than to have ephedrine Abbasi speak in support of me. The man is sleaze personified.
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) August 2, 2017
