Shahzeb Khanzada calls out Musharraf for sexist remarks against Bilawal

Geo News anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada called out Pervez Musharraf for his sexist remarks against PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto, wherein the former dictator asked Bilawal to stop "chanting slogans like a woman, and become a man first".

In what were taken by many as offensive and sexist remarks, Musharraf said in an interview to a channel, "I would like to tell Bilawal that these slogans lead to nowhere, what is the evidence for it?" 

The comments were in response to Bilawal’s claims that the ex-ruler was behind the assassination of his mother, the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Musharraf went on to claim that the PPP leadership was afraid of him.

"It only adds to my popularity when speeches are delivered against me at the rallies," he said.

On Geo News' current affairs talk show Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saath on Thursday, Khanzada called out Musharraf for using the word "woman" as a means to humiliate his opponent.

“The word 'woman' does not mean humiliation. It stands for pride, courage and bravery,” Shahzeb fired back.

“Musharraf criticised Bilawal and, instead of using any solid arguments to humiliate Bilawal, he, instead, compared him to a woman.”

“Courage and bravery are not specific to a gender. Musharraf, you have insulted women, their courage and bravery, [and] their work.”

Shahzeb went on to cite examples of Benazir Bhutto herself, Fatima Jinnah, rights activist Malala Yousafzai, Asma Jahangir, the assassinated activist Sabeen Mahmood, and “countless other women” — all of whom symbolise bravery.

Last month, Shahzeb Khanzada countered Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chairman Mustafa Kamal over similar sexist remarks.

Kamal had described Farooq Sattar's recent behaviour as "auraton kee tara rona dhona, chooriyan torna, cheel ki tarah chillana" (crying like a woman, smashing bangles, shrieking like an eagle).

Cutting the casual sexism short, the anchor had said, "Apologies for the intervention, but it's not right to refer to women like that.

"Women are a powerful group. It's not right to refer to them like this. That's all, please continue."