Yesterday, Imran Khan created a Twitter frenzy with his My Name Is Khan tweet
My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist. Moreover, the SC has pronounced me Sadiq and Ameen and I am coming after them crooks!
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 2, 2018
People started urging Maryam Nawaz to tweet her response to it because well, what’s a Tweet without some banter that follows, right?
Anyway, Maryam obliged:
My name is Khan and I am a STOOGE. https://t.co/ynhVFMAxxI
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) January 2, 2018
Soon the fight turned ugly when Maryam Nawaz attacked Imran Khan below the belt and commented on his personal life
عمران خان کی بیٹی سے پوچھ لیں وہ کتنے صادق اور امین ہیں۔مریم نواز@SairaShams @Arslan_PMLN @Atifrauf79 @Asmi_Malik_ pic.twitter.com/F3bhXoWiR4
— Sayra Shams ?⭐ (@SairaShams) January 2, 2018
The party members were also towing the same narrative without realizing how indecent the comment was
How can Imran Khan be Sadiq and Ameen with an illegitimate child??
— AbidSherAli (@AbidSherAli) January 2, 2018
Here is what is wrong with what Maryam Nawaz said
This is a classic example of how politicians move away from actual policies and sling mud on each other’s personal lives to prove a point. There should be a clear demarcation between the personal and political lives, and that boundary should not be crossed. These fights take us away from actual policy discussions that make us understand what both parties want to do for the country.
A twitter fight broke out after that, with each party commenting on each other’s personal lives and degrading everyone to making some very crude comments
“ If they Attack u personally, it means they have not a single political Argument left”!
Margaret ThatcherMariam Safdar has proved it Right Today
Once a low life Always a low life!!— نسرین (@Nas_k27) January 2, 2018
Maryam gave an invitation to publicly discuss about her marriage.
— Faisal Ahmad Jafri (@faisalahmadj) January 2, 2018
sir is Junaid safder a legitimate child of @MaryamNSharif ? Rumors circulating on SM that he was born before marrige.#KaptaanAaRahaHai #Nawaz #MaryamNawaz
— Jhangeer Khan (@Jhangee31587793) January 2, 2018
Didn't know he has a child like you as wellhttps://t.co/VKUizUeAHH
— Azhar (@MashwaniAzhar) January 3, 2018
Why you didn’t ask this question to ur sis Marium when she was pregnant before marriage?
— Muhammad Amir (@_MuhammadAmir) January 2, 2018
Thankfully, some sane voices were quick to point out that such attacks are highly personal and disgraceful
Dear PMLN Social Media Team, STOP spreading @MaryamNSharif clip mentioning Imran Khan's daughter ! This is NOTHING to feel proud of but must be condemned ! Keep the ethics alive even with your worst opponents! @pmln_org
— Gharidah Farooqi (@GFarooqi) January 2, 2018
It was already planned that #PMLN and media cell of @MaryamNSharif will start a fresh campaign in 2018 against #ImranKhan. And without wasting time #MaryamNawaz herself started that campaign by personal attacks on IK.#RoMaryamRo #KaptaanAaRahaHai #NoNRO_RoNawazRo
— Ammar (@ammarkhi) January 3, 2018
Another important lesson to learn here is to refrain from shaming women to bring other people down. Especially for a woman who aims to lead the country, for her to shame another woman like this is highly problematic
This statement is a proof of how much our leaders need to invest in understanding that women are not objects of offence. If women, who amass so much power, make such statements; then Pakistan still has a long way to go before actually treating women as equals.
Absolutely unwarranted statement ! @MaryamNSharif being a woman, a daughter should have not commented on another like this – even if aimed at a man. STOP this culture of shaming someone's women to shame him ! Indecorous for a leader – I'm sure MNS will take her words back ! https://t.co/84oQWDQbp1
— Gharidah Farooqi (@GFarooqi) January 2, 2018
Men aren't the only ones who shame women.
Ridiculous woman shaming by a woman who's the most powerful in her party & aspires to lead. What a disgrace! https://t.co/owJjHhg0Gx
— Maleeha Manzoor (@MaleehaManzoor) January 2, 2018
It is about time our politicians grow up and debate about things that actually matter.
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