Capt Safdar's remarks about women suffering from illness draw criticism, including from CM Maryam

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s spouse, retired Capt Muhammad Safdar, has come under fire for disparaging remarks about women advocating for bodily autonomy.</p> <p>Speaking at a Khatm-i-Nabuwwat rally in Chiniot earlier this week, Safdar took aim at the slogan “<em>mera jism, meri marzi</em>” (my body, my choice).</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-1/2 media--right media--embed media--uneven' data-original-src='https://www.dawn.com/news/1417913'> <div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe class="nk-iframe" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:250px;position:relative" src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1417913" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div> </figure> <p>He questioned why women who assert control over their bodies turn to religious scholars for prayers when diagnosed with serious illnesses such as cancer.</p> <p>“They say, ‘My body, my choice.’ But when they fall ill or develop cancer, they turn to religious scholars, seeking prayers and blessed water for a cure. They should understand that if they claim ownership over their bodies, they should also be able to cure them. In reality, the human body is under God’s control,” he said.</p> <p>On Friday, Maryam responded to a post on X regarding the speech, which stated: “Maryam Nawaz’s husband, Captain Safdar, also lost his mother-in-law to cancer, yet here he is mocking women who are battling cancer.”</p> <p>The chief minister’s mother, Kulsoom Nawaz, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1414337">passed away</a> in 2018 after a months-long battle with cancer.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/MaryamNSharif/status/2116202623762346264'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryamNSharif/status/2116202623762346264"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>“Heartbreaking,” the chief minister said, posting an emoji of a broken heart.</p> <p>“The silent battles a woman, a wife, fights behind closed doors … The strength she must find even when she feels like breaking. Some battles are fought in silence and some wounds are invisible,” she said.</p> <p>Apart from CM Maryam, users on social media also took issue with Safdar’s remarks.</p> <p>“My [mother] has been a cancer patient, and God knows how we managed to get through those difficult times. Her survival was nothing short of a miracle. Listening to Capt Safdar’s remarks on this matter is utterly shameful and disgraceful!” said TV anchor Ajmal Jami on X.</p> <p>He also thanked CM Maryam for her “thoughtful and compassionate words for all those brave women”.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/ajmaljami/status/2116222472685224202'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/ajmaljami/status/2116222472685224202"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>Another user, Maheen Ghani, said: “So a woman who says ‘<em>mera jism, meri marzi</em>’, which is essentially about autonomy and consent, loses the right to ask for prayers when she gets cancer? Is that seriously the argument?</p> <p>“To take a woman’s illness, her fear and her faith and turn them into an opportunity to humiliate her. What an ugly, twisted understanding of both women’s rights and religion.”</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/maheenghani_/status/2116229657578406331'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/maheenghani_/status/2116229657578406331"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>On the other hand, some, like journalist Benazir Shah, lauded CM Maryam for speaking out.</p> <p>“It takes real courage to take a public stand like this. More power to you, Maryam Nawaz Sharif,” she said.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/Benazir_Shah/status/2116240917644636423'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/Benazir_Shah/status/2116240917644636423"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.