Punjab chief minister responds after her husband, retired Captain Muhammad Safdar, faces criticism over comments linking women’s bodily autonomy views with seeking prayers for cancer.
LAHORE, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has described the struggles faced by women battling illness as “heartbreaking” after her husband, retired Captain Muhammad Safdar, came under criticism for remarks about women who advocate bodily autonomy and later seek prayers when diagnosed with cancer.
Maryam shared her response on social media platform X on Friday, October 30, without directly naming Safdar. Her comments followed the circulation of a video showing him discussing the slogan “Mera Jism, Meri Marzi” (My Body, My Choice) at a religious gathering in Chiniot earlier in the week.
What Maryam Nawaz said
In her post, the Punjab chief minister highlighted the private struggles women face and the strength they need to endure difficult circumstances.
“Heartbreaking. 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 wrote.
Her remarks attracted attention amid criticism of Safdar’s comments, particularly because Maryam’s mother, former first lady Kulsoom Nawaz, died in September 2018 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
What Captain Safdar said
Speaking at a Khatm-i-Nabuwwat rally in Chiniot earlier this week, Safdar criticised the slogan “Mera Jism, Meri Marzi”.
He questioned why women who assert control over their bodies seek prayers and religious support when they develop serious illnesses, including cancer.
Safdar argued that women who claim ownership over their bodies should be able to cure themselves when they become ill, adding that the human body ultimately belongs to God.
His comments triggered criticism from social media users, who objected to linking women’s views on bodily autonomy with their experiences of cancer and their decision to seek religious support.
Social media users respond
Several users criticised the remarks and shared personal experiences involving family members who had battled cancer.
Television journalist Ajmal Jami also criticised Safdar’s comments, referring to his own family’s experience with the disease. He thanked Maryam for her message expressing sympathy for women facing difficult circumstances.
Other users questioned the suggestion that advocating bodily autonomy should prevent women from seeking prayers or support during illness. Some also praised the chief minister for highlighting the challenges women face privately.
Lawyers’ bodies condemn remarks about Asma Jahangir
Separately, the Pakistan Bar Council and the executive committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association criticised Safdar over remarks he made about late lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir during the same gathering.
The Pakistan Bar Council’s vice chairman, Pir Muhammad Masood Chishti, said disparaging comments about Jahangir were regrettable and called for respect for her contributions to the legal profession, human rights and the rule of law.
The Supreme Court Bar Association’s executive committee also condemned the remarks, saying they had hurt the sentiments of the legal community. It further criticised Safdar’s comments about women and cancer patients.
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