ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Palwasha Khan on Tuesday formally submitted a privilege motion against Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan in the Senate Secretariat, terming the matter an issue of parliamentary dignity rather than personal grievance.
Addressing a press conference outside the Parliament House alongside PPP MNA Sehar Kamran, Senator Palwasha said the motion was lodged to protect the collective honour of Parliament and the democratic right to question the Executive.
“Remaining silent would have been easier, but it would not have been the right course,” she said, stressing that the issue transcended personal ego and concerned institutional respect.
She said political discourse should be strengthened through reason and argument, not intimidation or abusive language. “Politics is not a spectacle, but unfortunately it is being turned into one in this country. We will resist this trend, because abusive conduct is often a sign of weak arguments,” she added.
The senator warned that attempts to silence parliamentary scrutiny through threats or pressure would not succeed. “All ministers are accountable to Parliament, and the prime minister must take responsibility for restraining those ministers whose conduct violates parliamentary norms,” she said.
Referring to the minister’s conduct, Senator Palwasha said, “This is neither India nor is there an RSS-backed government here. This is Pakistan, an Islamic Republic. The federal minister should remember that. He is behaving like Nitish Kumar, who pulled a woman’s veil in India.” She added that such behaviour was unacceptable in Pakistan.
She further stated, “I am neither hiding behind my gender nor will I ever do so. We are all elected representatives of the people, and we deserve respect.” She alleged that the same minister had previously made derogatory remarks against women, including leaders from his own former political party. “It is the hallmark of cowardice to level allegations against women,” she said, questioning whether any allegations of corruption or misconduct were attached to her own political record.
Senator Palwasha cautioned that those with questionable backgrounds should refrain from casting aspersions on others. “People living in glass houses should not throw stones,” she remarked, adding that the matter would now be taken up in the Senate, where a decision would ultimately be made by the chairman in accordance with constitutional procedures. She reiterated that the issue was not about one individual, but about safeguarding parliamentary privilege and collective dignity. Speaking on the occasion, PPP MNA Sehar Kamran said the National Assembly stood in solidarity with Senator Palwasha Khan. “All women members of Parliament are united on this issue,” she said, describing the incident as an affront to the entire parliament rather than to a single member or committee.
Sehar Kamran called upon human rights organisations, women’s rights bodies and relevant institutions to take immediate notice of the matter. She praised Senator Palwasha for refusing to succumb to pressure, saying her stance deserved recognition and support. Meanwhile, the privilege motion submitted by Senator Palwasha Khan stated that during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Communications held on December 19, 2025, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan acted in a retaliatory manner “highly unbecoming of a public office holder” in response to an agenda item.
It stated that the minister was to explain the matter of “billions of rupees” in expenditure incurred on the Hadiara Drain to Thokar Niaz Baig Project. According to the motion, during the committee’s scrutiny of public funds, the minister began shouting instead of fulfilling his duty to be accountable and used derogatory and threatening language against committee members, including the phrases: “Sary be eman is committee main ikhaty ho kay mujhy black mail karty hain” (All of you in this committee are together blackmailing me), “Main apki zaat per bhi sawal karon ga” (I will question your lineage as well), and “main ap ki zaat pay baat kru ga tau ap ko mu chuppany ki jaga nae milay gi” (If I speak about your lineage, you will have nowhere to hide).
