The controversy surrounding Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s handshake with the visiting UAE President, Mohammed Bin Zayed, has sparked significant debate. AI-generated video has been created, altering the handshake into an unethical video of her hugging the UAE president. This fabricated video has been making the rounds on social media sites all over the world. Unfortunately, this is not a new phenomenon in Pakistan’s history.
Whenever a female political leader advances in her career, there are repeated attempts to assassinate her character by spreading fake and unethical news. The recent incident involving Maryam Nawaz is yet another example of the shameful and hypocritical double standards prevalent in Pakistan’s warped and twisted society. Numerous memes have surfaced on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and others, where individuals have edited videos using AI and shared them online.
This defamatory campaign was initiated by a group of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters, who criticized Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s handshake with the UAE President using AI-generated videos. This campaign has also created tensions between Pakistan and the UAE. Members of PTI actively discussed these memes on their social media pages, mocking and criticizing Maryam Nawaz for her style of shaking hands.
This act has hurt Maryam Nawaz’s public image. In response, she decided to take strict legal action against those responsible for creating and spreading these memes and defamatory videos. Unfortunately, such incidents are not new in Pakistan’s history. Many women in the country have faced similar challenges in the past.
For instance, in 1988, when Benazir Bhutto became the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan, she too was subjected to character assassination. In an effort to damage her reputation, opposition members targeted her by throwing her photos from a helicopter. However, Benazir Bhutto did not succumb to these tactics. Instead, she fought back against everyone who sought to tarnish her character.
Similarly, Hina Rabbani Khar, the former foreign minister of Pakistan, faced criticism upon her appointment. Even Fatima Jinnah, a revered figure in Pakistan’s history, was not spared, as General Ayub Khan led a campaign to assassinate her character. For example, Fawad Chaudhry called Hina Rabbani Khar, the former minister of state for foreign affairs, a “low-IQ woman” whose fame is attributed to her sunglasses and handbag. These incidents reveal the deep-rooted misogyny in Pakistani society, which struggles to accept women in leadership roles or recognize their capabilities.
Now is the time to spread awareness about gender sensitivity and inculcate this education in our institutions. The younger generation must learn that women can lead and represent a nation as effectively as men. When Maryam Nawaz represents Pakistan, she does so not as a woman but as a leader. The position of a Chief Minister is gender-neutral. In diplomatic settings, such as meeting foreign leaders, gestures like handshakes are a sign of professionalism and respect, not impropriety. Maryam Nawaz and the President of the United Arab Emirates shaking hands is a sign of harmonious relations and diplomacy.
Globally, women leaders have engaged in similar professional gestures without facing such backlash. For example, Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State, often shook hands and hugged Muslim leaders without controversy. Similarly, Hillary Clinton and Angela Merkel regularly met and greeted global leaders without being subjected to character assassination. Why, then, does Pakistani society create scandals and memes over such actions?
It is crucial to educate our youth about gender sensitivity and equality. Maryam Nawaz’s decision to take strict action against those responsible for spreading defamatory AI-generated videos and memes is a commendable step. As directed by the Punjab government, the Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) supervised by Deputy Director Sarfaraz Chaudhry opened an investigation.
The FIA Wing carried out investigations throughout the nation as part of the probe. Numerous social media accounts that disseminate fabricated photos and videos of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz have been found. The FIA has arrested three suspects and is pursuing the remaining criminals through raids. This action will set a precedent, protecting many women in Pakistan from similar attacks in the future. If these individuals face consequences, they will think twice before attempting to assassinate any woman’s character again.
