The script writer known for his controversial comments on feminism and misogyny surprised viewers on Thursday night in a discussion on Bol TV about the Minar-e-Pakistan incident when he said perhaps feminists were right about not feeling safe in Pakistan.

But the U-turn may have been a short one as the writer behind successful plays like Pyarey Afzal, Sadqay Tumhare and Mere Paas Tum Ho, Khalilur Rehman Qamar later went onto cast some aspersions on the assault survivor.

Before his tweets however, Rehman was a panel discussing the horrific incident on Minar-e-Pakistan on August 14 when he acknowledged that the incident wasn't a one-off and was part of a deeper malaise.

He also described as unfortunate the comments asking why did the woman have to go there? He said such comments support feminists who say men have made it difficult to live here and "today I feel they are right" when the say they are not safe.

But while people took to social media to express their disbelief at his "U turn", Rehman later tweeted a scathing attack on the woman survivor, casting doubts about her wellbeing after the attack.

His "feminists were right" comments were met with surprise on social media and also lauded.

Although his comments continued to be met with surprise, Rehman also tweeted on Thursday night that he blamed "rape culture" on Pervez Musharraf who liberalized media.

Rehman has been one of the most vocal voices against Aurat March. At a panel discussion on a TV channel on the occasion of Women's Day last year, he lost his temper when co-panelist Marvi Sirmed, feminist, writer and activist said "Mera Jism, Meri Marzi" a slogan which represents pro choice. He spoke harshly, telling her to shut up repeatedly, and said “Apna jism dekho; koi mard thookay ga bhi nahin uss par.” (Your body, your choice? Look at your body. No man would even spit on it.) He also called her a bitch.

His contract with Geo was suspended after this incident until he offered an apology but Rehman vowed not to work with them again.

There are many actors who refused to work with him and went public in saying so which includes Mahira Khan, Iffat Omar, Sarmad Khoosat, Sanam Saeed, Haroon Shahid, Arjumand Rahim, Hina Khawaja and Armeena Khan to name a few.

Could the shock of the Minar-e-Pakistan incident shifted something in the screenwriter? He tweeted his disbelief that the men who participated weren't criminals but regular men.

Apart from his attack on the survivor, he has also been tweeting in favor of the Taliban's victory in Afghanistan and also posted sermons of the late Khadim Rizvi of the Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan in which he described Ranjit Singh as a rapist. Rizvi was criticizing the statue which had been inaugurated at Lahore Fort. Earlier this week a TLP worker was arrested for vandalizing that statute.