Human rights minister Shireen Mazari on Tuesday thanked Maulana Tariq Jamil after he said he sincerely apologizes for remarks which might have inadvertently hurt people.
His apology comes five days after a television appearance which has caused an uproar in the country.
The maulana had been invited to say a prayer at the end of the Ehsaas Telethonheld to collect funds for the coronavirus relief fund. However, before his prayer began, he spoke at length about the pandemic and how among other things such as the prevalent cheating and lying in society — especially by the media — it was to be blamed on the “immodest actions” of women.
In his apology today, Jamil said: “My goal was to remind us all to focus on the spiritual and away from our desires and the materialistic.”
“I am the first to admit as I have taught over the years, that there is no excuse for making any hurtful comments about anyone or making anyone feel uncomfortable,” he continued.
The maulana went on to “sincerely apologise to anyone who may [have] been inadvertently hurt”.
Recently I made some comments that I wish to clarify
My aim was to point out that WE are all to blame for our current state. It was meant to be a general remark not targeting any specific men, women, persons or gender, but as a reminder to get closer to what Allah teaches us.— Tariq Jamil (@TariqJamilOFCL) April 27, 2020
My goal was to remind us all to focus on the spiritual and away from our desires and the materialistic.
I am the first to admit as I have taught over the years, that there is no excuse for making any hurtful comments about anyone or making anyone feel uncomfortable.— Tariq Jamil (@TariqJamilOFCL) April 27, 2020
Mazari noted with appreciation the clarification presented by Jamil. “You have many followers and this will send a clear message to any who seek to misinterpret your words to target women,” she said.
I would like to apologise if it caused you hurt. The intent was, & is, to clarify that COVID19 pandemic’s cause was not women. Women are victimised on many pretexts & we need to ensure that their rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pak are not violated
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) April 28, 2020
Offering an apology of her own to Jamil, she said that her earlier tweet “did not mention you”, and that she “would like to apologise if it caused you hurt”.
While reacting to Jamil’s earlier comments, Mazari — although had not named Jamil explicitly — had said that for “anyone under any guise to even suggest” that the pandemic has anything to do with women’s dressing reflects “ignorance” and a “misogynist mindset”.
“We will not accept the targeting of women on the pretext of such ludicrous accusations,” she had added.
