Video: Pakistan Lawmaker Goes Viral After Asking Speaker To Look Her In The Eye When She Speaks, Hear His Response

Zartaj Gul, a former minister of the Imran Khan cabinet, even told the speaker to use his glasses and then make eye contact with her. (Image: X)

Pakistani lawmaker and a former minister in Imran Khan’s cabinet, Zartaj Gul, went viral after a humorous exchange with Pakistan national assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Gul asked the national assembly speaker to look her in the eye when she was speaking.

A smiling Gul, as per the video of the exchange, could be even seen urging the speaker to wear his glasses and look at her.

“My party leaders have taught me to speak while looking directly into the eyes. I cannot continue speaking if you avoid eye contact like this. Wear your glasses, then, sir,” Gul is seen saying in the video, with sounds of laughter being heard in the background.

“I am a leader. I have received 150,000 votes. If you do not listen to me, I will not be able to address you,” Gul says once more in a bid to persuade the speaker.

“I will listen, but I cannot make eye contact with a woman as it does not seem appropriate,” Ayaz Sadiq responded.

“If you dismiss 52% of women in this manner, only selected individuals will participate here,” Gul said in response. The speaker then said that he refrains from making eye contact with women, sparking more laughter from both ruling and opposition benches.

The view counter on X shows the video has gathered more than 1.3 million views on the social media platform.

Gul is a Pakistani politician who served as Minister of State for Climate Change in Imran Khan’s ministry from October 5, 2021, until April 10, 2022, when Imran Khan was removed through a no-confidence motion. She was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 to January 2023. In 2024, Ms. Gul was re-elected from Dera Ghazi.