![Custom Text](https://bolojawan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/New-top-banner-add-04.jpg")
One of the founding members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and currently the Special Assistant to PM Imran Khan on Political Affairs, Naeem ul Haque, has come recently in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons after a Twitter spat between Arif Bhatti and Naeem ul Haque.
The Twitter spat resulted in Arif posting screenshots of some emails from 2012 which revealed the inappropriate behavior of Naeem with female PTI workers.
What happened this time?
Arif Hameed Bhatti alleged that before 2018 elections, some women from PTI came to him and talked about unwelcome advances of Naeem ul Haque towards them. Arif Bhatti says that he then took the complaints to Imran Khan.
Leaked emails
Arif Hameed Bhatti posted screenshots of leaked emails from 2012 between Fauzia Kasuri, Naeem ul Haq, Dr. Arif Alvi and late Zahra Shahid.
When late Zahra Shaid, who was the vice president of PTI and also served as the president of women’s wing in Sindh, showed Naeem the proof of corruption against him, he went “berserk and ranted and raved.”
“I have decided to dismiss you IMMEDIATELY (as) President Women Wing, Sindh…you deserve to be expelled from the party.”
-Naeem ul Haque to Zahra Shahid in 2012 emails
Fauzia Kasuri defended Zahra Shahid in the emails and asked Naeem ul Haq “to speak with care about who is corrupt and who is clean…you don’t really want to open a Pandora’s box?”
Sexual Harassment Allegations
In one email, Zahra Shahid claimed to have stopped PTI women from going on press conferences with Naeem ul Haq because of his “persistent and most unwelcome and unsavoury harassment of women.”
One of the founding members of PTI, Akber S. Babar claimed in a Facebook post in 2015 that when one woman from PTI confronted Naeem with allegations of mistreating women, he said, “I am a friend of Khan Sb, and no one can do anything against me.”
Read: Naeem-ul-Haq & Arif Hameed Bhatti Are Washing Their Dirty Laundry On Twitter & It’s Disgraceful
The women further stated that Naeem ul Haq used to send obnoxious messages, to the extent of “sending us congratulation messages at mid night.”
Previously he made headlines in 2017 when Ayesha Gulalai said that he discussed marriage with her. Naeem ul Haque did not deny that and instead he tweeted that there was nothing wrong with that. But later he deleted that tweet.
Naeem ul Haque’s reaction
Naeem ul Haque lashed out at Arif Hammed Bhatti, calling him, “an unemployed drunk.” He asked his followers to “…pray for him to get rid of his drinking and lying.”
To which Arif Hammed replied, “I am ready to go to any medico-legal facility for my test. Naeem ul Haq sahib, will you accompany me for your examination?”
Amir Mateen, another journalist and anchorperson jumped to Bhatti’s defense and tweeted that he also had evidence of Naeem behaving inappropriately with women.
What Reham Khan has got to do with these allegations?
Akber S. Babar further alleged that in 2015 PTI’s then Secretary Information, Haque used to send immoral text messages to Reham Khan before her marriage to Imran Khan.
He said that Naeem ul Haque made objectionable demands in exchange for an interview with Imran Khan. Reham Khan used to work with Aaj News at that time.
In her autobiography which stirred quite a controversy, Reham Khan alleged how Naeem ul Haq touched her inappropriately at a social gathering.
“I felt a hand touch my knee. I felt a cold shiver of disgust and turned to give the owner of the offending hand (Naeem ul Haq) a glare that promised to cut it straight off…Then I muttered something to Shehryar Taseer along the lines of, “Save me from this sleaze-ball.”
-Reham Khan
The book might not be seen as a credible source by many but as other women have also complained about Naeem’s behaviour, the allegation holds weight.
How Jahangir Tareen made light of the situation?
When journalist Arshad Sharif asked Jahangir Tareen about the allegations in the email, he said no formal complaint was lodged so PTI could not take any action.
Instead of trying to brush the allegations of sexual harassment against Naeem ul Haque under the carpet, PTI leadership should show spine and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. No one, not even a close friend of the Prime Minister himself should be allowed to demean women with impunity.
