LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Hina Parvez Butt has strongly criticised singer Falak Shabir over his recent call for legislation regulating women’s clothing in public spaces.
The criticism came after Falak Shabir urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to introduce a law addressing what he described as “short clothing” worn by women in public.
Reacting to the statement, Hina Parvez Butt took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, questioning why public figures repeatedly focus on women’s attire instead of more pressing national issues.
“I fail to understand why individuals like Falak Shabir are so obsessed with what women choose to wear,” she wrote. According to Butt, such debates reflect a regressive mindset that continues to hold Pakistani society back.
Drawing a comparison with international cities, the PML-N leader said that during her time in Istanbul, she observed that women’s clothing was not a subject of public scrutiny. “In Pakistan, however, many people rush to social media to police women’s choices,” she added.
پتا نہیں فلک شبیر جیسے لوگوں کا دماغ کب خواتین کے کپڑوں سے نکلے گا۔ آپ کبھی استنبول گئے ہوں تو وہاں خواتین کے لباس پر کوئی بات نہیں کرتا، یہاں پاکستان میں جس کا جو دل کرتا ہے سوشل میڈیا پر آکر بولنا شروع کر دیتا ہے۔ ایسی ذہنیت کی وجہ سے پاکستان آگے نہیں بڑھ رہا۔ خدارا اپنے کام سے… https://t.co/nbo4Nzr3fL
— Hina Parvez Butt (@hinaparvezbutt) June 7, 2026
Hina Parvez Butt maintained that constant interference in women’s personal decisions contributes to social intolerance and distracts from real development challenges facing the country. According to her, economic growth, education, and governance should be prioritised over moral policing.
She further urged citizens to respect individual freedoms and focus on their own responsibilities. “If people stop interfering in the private lives of others, society will automatically move towards progress,” she said.
The exchange has sparked renewed debate on social media about women’s rights, personal freedom, and the role of celebrities in influencing public policy discussions in Pakistan. While some users supported Butt’s stance, others defended Falak Shabir’s remarks, highlighting the deep divide over cultural and social values.
The Punjab government has not issued any official response regarding the proposed legislation.
