PAKISTAN'S Prime Minister has provoked fury after again blaming an epidemic of rapes in his country on women wearing "very few clothes" because men were not "robots".
In an interview, Imran Khan, the former cricketer and playboy-turned-politician repeated his "common sense" belief that revealing clothes had an "effect on men".
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Imran Khan blamed women's clothes for a rise in rape cases Credit: Axios/HBO 8
Twice-divorced Khan gained a reputation in London as a playboy Credit: Reuters
In an interview with Axios HBO that aired yesterday, Khan doubled down on remarks he made in April when he suggested during a Q&A session that "vulgarity" was to blame for rising sexual violence.
He said: "If a woman is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on the men unless they are robots. It’s just common sense."
The prime minister then went on to suggest it all depends on what was acceptable in the culture in which someone lives.
In a society where people have not "seen that sort of thing", he said it will have an impact on them.
He said: "If you grow up in a society like yours, maybe it won’t have an impact.
"This is cultural imperialism.
If a woman is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on the men, unless they are robots
Imran Khan, Pakistan prime minister
"Whatever is acceptable in our culture, must be acceptable everywhere else. It’s not."
His remarks have sparked a backlash online and his second wife Reham Khan has slammed him as a "defiant, stubborn rape apologist".
She told MailOnline his comments were "unforgivable" and called him "beyond insensitive" for continuing to blame victims for sexual violence.
International Commission of Jurists' South Asia Legal Adviser Reema Omar tweeted, "Prime Minister Imran Khan's statement on the causes of sexual violence in Pakistan is very disappointing in which he has once again blamed the victim.
"This is clearly lousy."
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Khan married glamorous socialite Jemima Goldsmith in 1994 Credit: Reuters 8
Khan blamed divorce rates in the UK on the 'sex, drugs and rock and roll' culture Credit: AFP
Khan, one of the best cricketers of all time, said in April the "rapid" increase in rape cases indicated the "consequences in any society where vulgarity is on the rise".
"This entire concept of purdah is to avoid temptation, not everyone has the willpower to avoid it," he said, using a term that can refer to modest dress or the segregation of the sexes.
Hundreds have now signed a statement calling Khan's comments "factually incorrect, insensitive and dangerous".
"Fault rests solely with the rapist and the system that enables the rapist, including a culture fostered by statements such as those made by Khan," the statement said.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan - an independent rights watchdog - said it was "appalled" by the comments.
"Not only does this betray a baffling ignorance of where, why and how rape occurs, but it also lays the blame on rape survivors, who, as the government must know, can range from young children to victims of honour crimes," it said.
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England cricketer Ian Botham and Imran Khan sitting next to each other Credit: PA:Press Association
Much of Pakistan lives under an "honour" code where women who bring "shame" on the family can be subjected to violence or murder.
It is a deeply conservative country where victims of sexual abuse are often viewed with suspicion and cases are rarely seriously investigated.
During the interview on live television at the weekend, Khan also blamed divorce rates in the UK on the "sex, drugs and rock and roll" culture which began in the 1970s - when the twice-divorced Khan was gaining a reputation in London as a playboy.
He has been linked to a roll call of glamorous beauties, including Stephanie Beacham, Goldie Hawn, Kristiane Backer, Susannah Constantine and Marie Helvin – while he also counted Princess Diana as a friend.
The batsman-turned-politician himself had said meeting women was chief among "the very decadent pleasures in life" which he enjoyed.
In 1995, he married glamorous socialite Jemima Goldsmith and the couple had two sons before they split in 2004, which was in part attributed to the difficulties she faced in Pakistan where she was hounded for her Jewish ancestry.
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Khan counted Princess Diana (right) among his friends Credit: Reuters 8
Khan and Jemima divorced in 2004 after having two sons together Credit: PA:Press Association
Khan's second marriage to former BBC newsreader Reham Khan lasted just nine months in 2015.
He married his current wife, Bushra Wattoo, in a conservative ceremony in 2018, and revealed how did not see her face until after they wed.
Last year, Khan was criticised after failing to challenge a Muslim cleric's insistence that Covid had been unleashed because of the wrongdoings of women.
And nationwide protests also erupted after a police chief reprimanded a gang-rape victim for driving at night without a male companion.
The Franco-Pakistani mother was assaulted in front of her children on the side of a motorway after her car ran out of fuel.
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Khan's latest controversy comes as the organisers behind International Women's Day marches face what they have called a "coordinated disinformation campaign" against them.
It has led to blasphemy accusations - a hugely sensitive issue in Pakistan where allegations have previously led mobs to attack people.
The organisers of the annual march have called for the prime minister to intervene.
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The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said it was 'appalled' by Khan's comments Credit: AP
Pakistan PM Imran Khan receives Covid vaccine