Wouldn’t say’such a stupid thing’ as to hold the rape victim’somehow responsible’: PM Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan stated on Wednesday that he would “never utter such a foolish thing” where a rape victim is “somehow accountable” for the crime perpetrated against them, after being harshly chastised for his remarks on rape.

PM Imran Khan was challenged about his statements suggesting that a person who is raped is partially accountable for the crime in an interview with PBS News Hour.

“Anyone who commits rape has entire and complete responsibility. So let’s get it out of the way. The person who commits rape is totally accountable, regardless of how provocative the lady is or what she wears. As soon as PM Khan was posed the question, he responded, “Never is the victim responsible.”

The prime minister told journalist Judy Woodruff that his remarks were “deliberately” taken “totally” out of context.

“They were merely discussing Pakistani culture, where sex offences are on the rise,” the prime minister stated. He also stated that sex offences are not limited to women.

“More than rape, there are child abuse [cases] on the rise, therefore my remarks were made in that context,” PM Khan stated.

The prime minister said that he used the term “pardah,” noting that it does not just refer to clothing or to women. “Pardah” is also for males, according to him, and it means “to tone down temptation in a community.”

And I have to say this since I am well-versed in all of the interviews I have conducted. Never would I suggest anything foolish like a raped person is somewhat accountable. “The rapist is always to blame,” Prime Minister Khan stated.

Pakistani women, according to Prime Minister Imran Khan, are treated with greater respect than women in other countries.
Woodruff also asked the PM if the centrality of Islam in Pakistan prevents him from adopting a more assertive position on women’s issues.

“Absolutely not,” says the narrator. “Women are treated with dignity and respect in Islam,” the Prime Minister responded to her query. He went on to say that after travelling across the world, he saw that women are treated with more respect in Muslim nations.