Maryam Nawaz reacts to Capt Safdar’s controversial remarks about women with cancer

Retired Captain Muhammad Safdar, husband of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, faced public criticism after making controversial comments about women’s right to control their bodies. His remarks were made at a Khatm-i-Nabuwwat rally in Chiniot earlier this week.

During his speech, Safdar criticised the slogan “mera jism, meri marzi” (my body, my choice). He questioned why women who support this slogan seek prayers from religious scholars when they develop serious illnesses such as cancer.

Capt Safdar’s comments about women and cancer

Safdar argued that women who claim control over their bodies should also be able to deal with illnesses affecting them. He referred to the practice of seeking prayers and blessed water from religious scholars when facing serious health problems.

“They say, ‘My body, my choice.’ But when they fall ill or develop cancer, they turn to religious scholars, seeking prayers and blessed water for a cure. They should understand that if they claim ownership over their bodies, they should also be able to cure them. In reality, the human body is under God’s control,” he said.

His comments quickly attracted criticism on social media. Many users said that seeking medical treatment or religious prayers has nothing to do with a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body.

Maryam Nawaz responds to controversial remarks

On Friday, Maryam Nawaz reacted to a social media post discussing her husband’s speech. The post pointed out that her mother, Kulsoom Nawaz, had also died after battling cancer.

Maryam’s mother passed away in 2018 following a months-long fight against the disease. Responding to the post on X, the Punjab chief minister wrote, “Heartbreaking,” alongside a broken-heart emoji.

She also shared a message about the emotional struggles women face while dealing with illness and personal difficulties. Her words appeared to reflect the pain and strength required during such difficult times.

“The silent battles a woman, a wife, fights behind closed doors … The strength she must find even when she feels like breaking. Some battles are fought in silence and some wounds are invisible,” she said.

Social media users criticise Capt Safdar

Maryam Nawaz was not the only person to respond to Safdar’s comments. Several social media users also criticised his remarks, particularly his reference to women suffering from cancer.

Television anchor Ajmal Jami shared his personal experience of having a mother who suffered from cancer. He said his family had faced extremely difficult times during her illness.

“My [mother] has been a cancer patient, and God knows how we managed to get through those difficult times. Her survival was nothing short of a miracle. Listening to Capt Safdar’s remarks on this matter is utterly shameful and disgraceful!” said TV anchor Ajmal Jami on X.

Jami also thanked Maryam Nawaz for expressing support for women dealing with serious illnesses. He praised her “thoughtful and compassionate words for all those brave women”.

Debate over women's rights and religious beliefs

Another social media user, Maheen Ghani, questioned the connection Safdar had made between women's bodily autonomy and their decision to seek prayers during illness. She said that a woman's belief in personal choice does not prevent her from asking others to pray for her recovery.

“So a woman who says ‘mera jism, meri marzi’, which is essentially about autonomy and consent, loses the right to ask for prayers when she gets cancer? Is that seriously the argument?

“To take a woman’s illness, her fear and her faith and turn them into an opportunity to humiliate her. What an ugly, twisted understanding of both women’s rights and religion.”

The criticism has brought renewed attention to discussions about women's rights, personal choices and religious beliefs. Safdar’s remarks have also raised questions about how public figures discuss serious illnesses and the experiences of women facing them.

The controversy highlights the importance of treating serious illnesses with care and respect. Cancer patients and their families already face emotional and physical difficulties, and their personal beliefs should not become a reason for public humiliation.

A woman's right to make decisions about her body does not stop her from seeking medical treatment, prayers or religious support. These choices can exist together without contradiction.

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