PTI lawmaker Muhammad Iqbal Afridi objected to a woman’s attire during a meeting of a National Assembly standing committee on Friday, drawing treasury members’ ire.

“The attire of a female representative from K-Electric was objectionable. Such clothing should not be worn in committee meetings,” he said during the National Assembly Standing Committee on Energy (Power Division) meeting at the Parliament House.

According to the lawmaker, he raised the issue after the KE official had briefed the panel and left the meeting room.

One of the items on the meeting’s agenda was a “comprehensive report/implementation status” of previous recommendations about issues raised by MNAs Afridi and Syed Rafiullah “regarding the disconnection overbilling and unannounced load-shedding of electricity in Karachi and erstwhile Fata”.

“Standard operating procedures (SOPs) should be devised for women’s clothing,” the PTI MNA said and added that the committee members learn such SOPs.

Later, panel’s chairman Muhammad Idrees apologised over the matter. He was of the view that it was inappropriate to object to a women’s dress.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that condemned the harassment of a woman during the NA panel meeting.

He criticised the PTI, stating that it has become an “Injustice Movement” for women and emphasised that harassment of any kind was unacceptable. Tarar called for action against Afridi, asserting that his party membership should be suspended because of his comments.

“Women in society already face numerous challenges and this incident highlights the rising fascism in the PTI,” the information minister said.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also condemned Afridi’s objection to the attire of a female representative.

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In a post on X, she described such remarks as “regrettable and unacceptable,” stating that the woman likely earned her position based on her qualifications and capabilities.

Sherry stressed the need for respect from male committee members towards women, questioning why male legislators feel entitled to police women’s attire.

She argued that such objections reflect conservative and patriarchal mindsets.