AMN / ISLAMABAD
Imran Khan, the leader Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has been embroiled into a ‘lewd’ controversy following allegation by a lady member that Khan sends “lewd text messages” to her and other women members.
Ms Ayesha Gulalai, an MP from the PTI party on Tuesday resigned from party, accusing party chief Imran Khan of sending “lewd text messages” to her and other women members. Calling Mr. Khan and his ‘gang’ characterless, she said honour of women is not safe in the party.
“Imran Khan has sent first lewd message to me in October 2013. He does it through his Blackberry. His Blackberry should be checked. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority can testify to my claims if his Blackberry is confiscated,” she told a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Ms. Gulalai, a young member of the National Assembly from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), was once an ardent and vocal supporter of the PTI.
Meanwhile PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi asked PTI chairman Imran Khan must respond to the “shameful” allegations of harassment levelled against him by former PTI lawmaker Ayesha Gulalai.
Addressing the media outside the Supreme Court, Abbasi invited Imran Khan to hold a press conference in the evening to apologise to the nation and present himself for accountability.
“Whenever an allegation has been made against me, I held a press conference within five minutes to reveal the reality,” Abbasi said.
“A grave allegation has been levelled against you [Khan] and you should have been ashamed, but you are not — because in the society that you come from, these matters are not considered shameful,” added Abbasi. “If these allegations are not investigated, we will believe that justice has died.”
It is important that the BlackBerry, from which the messages were sent, be investigated and the messages should be presented to the public, he added.
Abbasi said that in 2013, he had asked the country not to let their “mothers, daughters and sisters” attend the rallies of the PTI to “protect them from this person.”
Opposition leader Khursheed Shah also backed PML-N’s demand for an investigation, saying, “The matter concerning Gulalai is regrettable. Women never make allegations involving themselves. It should be investigated.”
Lawyer Raja Basharat filed a petition in the Election Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday, seeking Imran Khan’s disqualification on the basis of the allegations levelled against him by Gulalai.
PML-N’s Hina Pervaiz Butt has submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly for Imran Khan’s disqualification on the basisi of Article 62 and 63 in light of Gulalai’s allegations.
“MNA Ayesha Gulalai’s rebuke adds to the disquiet about a woman’s place in the party,” Sherry Rehman, Senator from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), tweeted. However, there was no word from Mr. Khan.
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