Rehman demands apology from minister after Senate committee shock

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Sherry Rehman has condemned Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and asked him to apologize following a heated exchange with Senator Palwasha Khan during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Communications on Friday.

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She said questioning the government was Senator Palwasha’s constitutional right and responsibility. “He needs to apologise. I am not even saying this because she is a woman, she deserves basic respect as an honorable MP from a federal minister,” Rehman said.

The incident was also condemned by the Human Rights Council of Pakistan, which described the minister’s alleged conduct as harsh and inappropriate.

In a statement, the council said such behavior towards an elected senator was contrary to democratic values, the dignity of women and fundamental human rights. He said that in a parliamentary system, it is the responsibility of every minister, particularly the chair of a committee, to respond to questions from public representatives in a respectful and dignified manner.

The council said Senator Palwasha Khan had a constitutional right to ask questions and that using insulting or discourteous language in response was unacceptable. He called the behavior “verbal violence, mistreatment of a woman and gender discrimination,” for which there was no moral or legal justification.

The HRCP demanded that the matter be addressed immediately and transparently, a formal explanation and apology be sought from the federal minister and strict adherence to the parliamentary code of conduct be ensured to protect the dignity of women parliamentarians. He said the humiliation of women was intolerable in any forum and pledged to continue to defend the dignity, equality and human rights of women.

Verbal spit

The episode occurred during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Communications when Senator Palwasha questioned whether public funds were used to construct a road in Lahore that mainly benefited a private housing society.

According to those present, the minister reacted angrily, saying he found the allegations offensive and warning that “personal attacks” would be responded to in the same way. He said the government was prepared to clarify its position but would not stoop to what he described as a “lower level” of discourse.

Senator Palwasha maintained that she had merely asked for clarification and had not made any allegations. She said it was her right as a parliamentarian to question the use of taxpayers’ money. The exchanges intensified when the minister accused the committee members of being “blackmailers and dishonest”, sparking strong objections.

The committee’s chairman, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, made several attempts to restore order. Following her intervention, the minister issued an apology, which Senator Palwasha refused, saying she had been humiliated and would raise the issue with senior leaders of her party.

The incident also sparked reactions on social media. Journalist Hamza Azhar Salam, founder and editor-in-chief of LePakQuotidienshared a video of the exchange on X, calling the minister’s behavior “extremely inappropriate.”

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Senator Palwasha said if a road was built with public funds, lawmakers had every right to question whether it was intended to benefit a private company. She also expressed disappointment over what she described as the “collective attitude” of the Shehbaz Sharif-led cabinet.

Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan Mandokhail, another member of the committee, later said that although ministers were regularly questioned in parliamentary committees, the exchange was inappropriate and should not have taken place.