PTI Leaders Clash Over Shafi Jan’s Remarks Against Punjab Information Minister
ISLAMABAD:PTI lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat has criticized Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan over remarks directed at Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, saying the language used had damaged the party’s moral standing rather than its political opponents.
In a statement on X, Marwat said Shafi Jan had attempted to politically target Maryam Nawaz and Azma Bokhari but had instead provided the opposition with an argument they had been looking for.
He said the PTI’s real strength lay in the repression it had faced and its position as a victim of political circumstances. “When an argument is lost, the tongue reaches for a person’s character, but the stain does not always remain on the collar; it can also remain on the hands,” Marwat said.
Marwat maintained that bringing women’s marriages, character and private lives into politics was neither bravery nor politics, nor was it consistent with Pashtun traditions. He urged political opponents to challenge each other’s policies without crossing the threshold of their homes.
He further said that a minister’s words reflected both the office they held and their upbringing. “Do not lower your language so much while trying to diminish your opponent that your own stature begins to look smaller,” he said, adding that defending Shafi Jan’s speech was more difficult than condemning it.
### Shafi Jan Defends Remarks
Speaking on Geo News, KP Information Minister Shafi Jan said his remarks concerning Azma Bokhari had been misinterpreted. He questioned whether Bokhari had apologized for allegedly referring to Pashtuns as “savages.”
Shafi Jan said that if Bokhari apologized, he would also refrain from making further statements on the matter. He added that those who interpreted his remarks differently were doing so because of their own mindset.
Shafi Jan also criticized Maryam Nawaz over remarks concerning the provinces, alleging that her statement amounted to giving Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “clean chit.” He claimed that describing Punjab’s threat as coming from neighboring provinces rather than a neighboring country was harmful to national unity.
### Hiba Fawad Condemns Remarks
Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry’s wife, Hiba Fawad, also condemned Shafi Jan’s remarks against Azma Bokhari.
In a post on X, she described the language as “highly condemnable and shameful,” saying that political differences were understandable but insulting a woman was unacceptable under any circumstances.
Hiba Fawad questioned whether Shafi Jan would use the same language for women in his own family. She urged him to clarify his remarks and apologize for what she described as inappropriate language, stressing that women must be treated with respect.
### Shafi Jan’s Earlier Remarks
The controversy followed remarks by Shafi Jan in the KP Assembly, where he said Maryam Nawaz would have to apologize for what he described as insulting Pashtuns by calling them “savages.”
He said he would continue demanding an apology from the Punjab chief minister. He also alleged that Maryam Nawaz’s remarks had given Modi relief and hurt national sentiments.
Shafi Jan further criticized Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Rana Sanaullah, saying that references to another possible May 9 incident reflected a particular political mindset. He also referred to past controversies including Dawn Leaks and Memogate, while making allegations regarding Rana Sanaullah’s alleged links with banned organizations during previous election campaigns.
