Nusrat Abbasi accepts minister's apology for lewd remarks

KARACHI: Nusrat Sahar Abbasi accepted Sindh Minister for Works and Services Imdad Pitafi's apology, after the latter draped a traditional shawl over the former's head. 

Imdad Pitafi left his seat to head over to where Nusrat Sahar Abbasi was seated and draped a traditional shawl over the PML-F leader's head. Nusrat accepted his apology and said that she had forgiven Pitafi only because of the sake of the shawl. 

"I accept his apology for the sake of the shawl. It is a tradition in Sindh that when a shawl is used as a sign of forgiveness, then the other person accepts it," she said. 

She however, urged Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that he should ensure that the incident should not happen again in the future. 

"I am also a woman like your mother Benazir Bhutto," she said. "I have been insulted and my family has been insulted. Bilawal Bhutto should guarantee that an incident like this should not be repeated in the future," she said. 

She thanked all human rights activists and organisations as well as senior political members for extending their support to her. 

Earlier, Sindh Member of Provincial Assembly Nusrat Sahar Abbasi threatened self immolation, giving an ultimatum of two days to the Pakistan Peoples Party to fire Imdad Pitafi as a provincial minister. 

Clutching a bottle of petrol in one hand, the PML-F leader and opposition member claimed that she would douse herself in petrol and burn herself if justice was not served in two days. 

"Everyone witnessed how I was harassed in Sindh Assembly," she said. "If Imdad Pitafi is not forced to resign or fired in two days, I will burn myself in front of Sindh Assembly," she said. 

Nusrat claimed that her family members were forcing her to stay indoors and not take part in politics if the minister is not punished for his statement. She alleged that this was not just her personal matter now but an issue for all women who were harassed at workplaces. 

"I am being stopped from doing my work," she said. 

Nusrat Sahar Abbasi called on Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Bakhtawar Bhutto to intervene and force the minister to step down before she took the drastic measure. 

"Asif Ali Zardari sahab, you saw what happened in Sindh assembly," she said. "If I am denied justice, no other daughter of Sindh will ever ask for her rights from Bilawal," she added. 

On Saturday, Imdad Pitafi and Nusrat Abbasi had exchanged harsh words during a session of the Sindh assembly when the latter had asked the former to read in English. Pitafi had replied to her in a sentence that had a dual meaning. He had also referred to Abbasi as a 'drama queen'. 

Nusrat Abbasi rejects Pitafi's apology

Imdad Pitafi apologised in writing to Nusrat Sahar Abbasi for the lewd remarks. However, Abbasi refused to accept his apology and instead demanded the Minister for Works and Services' resignation. 

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had directed Nisar Khuhro to issue a show-cause notice to Pitafi regarding the incident. Imdad Pitafi had, in response to the notice, apologised in writing.