Public humiliation: PTI lawmaker thrashed by teenager

ABBOTTABAD: A PTI MNA, Dr Azhar Jadoon, was publicly thrashed by a teenager here on Thursday during a function, eyewitnesses and police said.

The ceremony was organized at the Jalal Baba Auditorium in the city for launching a provincial government-sponsored project called ‘Sehat ka Insaf’ for Hazara division.

He was accompanied by provincial health minister Shahram Khan Tarakai, advisers to the CM Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani, Zar Gul Khan and minister Qalandar Khan Lodhi.

Other participants included Chairman DDAC Abbottabad Sardar Muhammad Idrees, local government representatives and officials of the health department.

According to eyewitness reports, the teenager, identified as Zainul Islam, briskly approached the stage as if he wanted to discuss something important with one of the guests on the stage.

“As soon as the boy reached the stage, he repeatedly slapped and punched the PTI lawmaker,” said one of the guests. The boy also used abusive language against the MNA.

Interestingly, police quickly rescued the attacker and protected him from the infuriated lawmaker and other guests.

Policemen quickly dragged the boy out and drove him to the Cantonment Police Station. Before the teenager was hauled off to the police station, he told media persons that he had ‘avenged’ the insult that the MNA and his supporters heaped on Lt-Gen (retd) Ayaz Salim Rana during a funeral in Nawanshehr three days ago.

The attacker accused the MNA of inciting one of his supporters to slap the ‘Gen Sahib’.

The ceremony resumed after a few minutes, but a number of participants had left after the incident.

Dr Azhar Jadoon later condemned the incident and termed it an attack on voters of NA-17 Abbottabad.

Accusing unknown opponents of sending hired people to attack him, Jadoon said that he expected the authorities concerned to take stern action against his attacker and his ‘handlers’.

Meanwhile, Lt-Gen (retd) Ayaz Salim Rana, who is a close relative of the MNA, denied knowing Dr Azhar’s attacker.

Rana, who is also a member of Dispute Resolution Council of District Abbottabad, dispelled the impression that he was ever slapped by either Dr Azhar or any of his supporters.

According to the SHO of the Cantonment police station, a criminal case had been registered against Zainul Islam.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2016.