LAHORE MIRROR — Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar Awan, husband of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has triggered widespread public outrage following controversial remarks regarding women battling cancer, drawing intense criticism across social media and political circles.
The controversy erupted after a video clip from a recent religious gathering went viral. While criticizing the “Mera Jism Meri Marzi” (My Body, My Choice) feminist slogan, Safdar remarked: “Jab beemar hoti hain aur cancer hota hai… jab tumhara jism hai to theek kar lo isay” (When they fall ill and get cancer… if it is your body, then cure it yourself).
The comments immediately sparked a fierce backlash, with critics labeling the statement as insensitive and deeply ironic. Observers and social media users quickly pointed out that Safdar’s own family has been profoundly impacted by the disease; his late mother-in-law and former First Lady of Pakistan, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, passed away in London in 2018 after a prolonged battle with lymphoma.
Responding to the growing public anger, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz addressed the situation in a poignant post on X (formerly Twitter). Describing the ordeal as “heartbreaking,” she acknowledged the silent, invisible battles that women fight behind closed doors.
Heartbreaking. 💔
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. 💔— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 30, 2026
Maryam Nawaz has frequently spoken about the emotional toll cancer takes on families, previously recounting how her own mother’s terminal illness was weaponized and mocked by political opponents during her treatment.
Public health advocates and women’s rights groups have condemned the remarks, emphasizing that cancer is a critical health crisis affecting thousands of Pakistani women annually, and should never be trivialized for political or ideological rhetoric.
