PTI Senator Azam Swati held an emotional press conference in which he narrated harrowing details of the moment he spoke to his family after they were sent an explicit vidoe of intimate moments between him and his wife.

Following the press conference, there was widespread condemnation accompanied by disgust and outrage at what was labelled a despicable act.

“The video of Begum Azam Swati is clearly beyond the pale. I feel ashamed that an honourable woman can be so humiliated in my country. This madness must stop,” wrote Miftah Ismail of the PML-N, while retweeting an apology by Imran Khan to Swati’s wife on the nation’s behalf.

Imran Khan, the PTI chief, was unequivocal in his condemnation

“What has happened to Azam Swati at the hands of the State has been a blatant violation of all these values - from being stripped naked to custodial torture & now this video where privacy of his wife has been violated. It is both shocking, despicable & utterly condemnable,” he tweeted.

“This clip of Azam Swati Sahib is a slap on the face of the Senate Chairman and all parliaments,” tweeted PPP’s Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar.

Khokhar later tweeted that he had been told that state institutions weren’t involved in the doctoring and disseminating the video.

One user broke down the talking points from Swati’s press conference and the impact such a news could have on the family.

Journalist Riaz ul Haq tweeted that Swati had confirmed the video was not doctored.

Hassan Niazi, a lawyer and PTI chief Imran Khan’s nephew, tweeted that Swati’s revelation that the video was recorded at the judicial lodges in Quetta meant that even members of the higher judiciary weren’t safe from blackmail.

The Federal Investigation Agency, in a tweet, said that vidoe was fake and doctored.

“He broke into tears but he didn’t break under their pressure to let the regime blackmail him like many other weak characters who bent their knees over such videos. The courage it takes is astounding,” tweeted verified user with the handle @BhittaniKhannnn.

For many, the pain and anguish in Swati’s voice was unbearbale.

For one user, it was more shocking than the assassination attempt on Imran Khan.

Others called for the embattled senator to stay strong.

“There are no words to express the shame, hurt and anger. Mr. Swati… your tears will not fall in vain,” wrote Pakistani-British performer Annie Khalid,

There was collective grief.

Journalist Zarrar Khuro urged the Supreme Court to take suo moto notice of the ‘shameful and disgusting’ act.

There was consensus that this was indeed a new low for those with the power and reach to make and disseminate such videos.

“Everyday you see something beyond disgusting in this country.”

What has been disconcerting so far is that key political leaders, including Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are yet to condemn the incident.

Meanwhile, Swati’s video and those believed to be responsible for it were trending on Twitter throughout the day.

Here is a screenshot from 6pm, Saturday, November 5.