As the rising political tensions in Punjab escalated into full-blown fights on the floor of the provincial assembly, political leaders issued angry condemnations – while accusing the other side of stoking the heat and seeking legal action.
PTI/PMLQ MPAs attack on Dy Speaker inside Punjab Assembly must be condemned in strongest terms possible. This blatant display of violence & hooliganism is fascism, pure & simple. IK’s desperation & incitement to violence is rupturing our society. He is attacking democracy itself.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 16, 2022
PTI and PML-Q lawmakers attacked Punjab Assembly acting speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari as he arrived in the house to preside over the PA session held to elect the chief minister.
Mazari was reported to have received minor injuries as a result of the PTI MPAs' assault.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to his official Twitter handle to condemn the attack, deeming it a "blatant display of violence and hooliganism". The premier accused former prime minister Imran Khan of inciting violence and attacking democracy due to personal "desperation".
Attack on deputy speaker Punjab is not only an attack on the Punjab assembly, it’s an attack on our courts who had ruled he conduct elections today, an attack on our democracy, an attack on our constitution, an attack on our federation and an attack on the people of South Punjab.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) April 16, 2022
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari believed the chaos was an attack on courts, "who had ruled he [Sardar Dost Mazari] conduct elections today".
The PPP leader furthered that the scenes in the Punjab Assembly were an attack on "our democracy, an attack on our Constitution, an attack on our federation, and an attack on the people of South Punjab".
PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzaib stated that "such dirty behaviour is the gift of Imran". She added that the former ruling party first "attacked the Constitution and the National Assembly," and when
"Imran's conspiracy failed he ordered an attack on the deputy speaker."
Maryam Nawaz of the PML-N also harshly condemned the act stating, "it is the first duty of every
یہ ہے وہ گنڈا گردی ، بد تہذیبی جو عمران صاحب کا تحفہ ہے ۔ نیشنل اسمبلی میں آئین پہ حملہ پارلیمان پہ حملہ اور پنجاب اسمبلی میں پہلے آئین پہ حملہ اور کب وہ سازش ناکام تو عمران صاحب نے ڈپٹی سپیکر پہ حملے کا حکم دیا pic.twitter.com/IRzp3sfG4x
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) April 16, 2022
Pakistani to eradicate this hooliganism and rage from PTI."
The leader expressed that "such culture" was dangerous for the country and must be eradicated.
"People of Punjab, recognize their faces!" she stated.
'Imran showing true colours'
PML-N's Rana Sanaullah also took to Twitter to claim that "violence was propagated by Imran Niazi is now showing its true colours", deeming the attack on deputy speaker Mazari as shameful. The minister called for legal action against those involved.
Member of the National Assembly Ahsan Iqbal accused Imran Khan of being "hell-bent to create anarchy" citing the display of violence in the Punjab Assembly.
"Imran is proving that he is Hitler's disciple but will be stopped," he tweeted.
'Inches away from civil unrest'
PTI leader and former information minister stated that the event in the Punjab Assembly demonstrated that the country is "inches away from full-fledged civil unrest".
The former minister claimed that Imran Khan had exercised "utmost restraint" but soon would not be able to "stop every angry mob". Fawad Chaudhry furthered that as the country would plunge into unrest, the "imported leaders" would be unable to flee.
While former special assistant to ex-PM Imran Khan, Shahbaz Gill, deemed the incident "tragic" but blamed it on "those who engaged in horse-trading, made a mockery of the Constitution and bought peoples' allegiances".
"Unfortunately, no hearing was held on the reference sent by the president," Gill lamented. He observed that chaos is "bound to spread" when the whole system would "suppress the voice of the oppressed".
PTI leader Azhar Mashwani also tweeted regarding the incident. "After being elected on a PTI ticket and enjoying the position for three and a half years, he is now sold to PML-N."
He wrote, "such people should have shoes thrown at them, not necklaces."
اس غنڈہ گرد اور سڑک چھاپ PTI کا جڑ سے خاتمہ ہر پاکستانی کا اولین فرض ہے۔ یہ کلچر کسی طرح بھی ملک و قوم کے لیے اچھا نہیں بلکہ تباہی ہے۔ اس کا فوری سدباب اور خاتمہ ضروری ہے۔ پنجاب کے عوام ان کے چہرے پہچان لے۔
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 16, 2022
The violence propagated by Imran Niazi is now showing its true colour, physically assaulting the Deputy Speaker of the #PunjabAssembly is shameful, to say the least. An action in line with the law must be taken against the MPAs of PTI and PML-Q for desecrating the assembly.
— Rana SanaUllah Khan (@RanaSanaullahPK) April 16, 2022
Imran Niazi is hell bent to create anarchy at all levels. The display of vandalism, hooliganism & violence in Punjab Assembly by PTI & Q League MPAs to block election of Chief Minister is most condemnable. Imran is proving that he is Hitler’s disciple but will be stopped. pic.twitter.com/tNLKLjOGpa
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) April 16, 2022
We are inches away from full fledge Civil unrest, @ImranKhanPTI has exercised utmost restraint very soon even he won’t be able to stop this very angry mob and we ll see Country plunging into a civil unrest, imported leaders ll not be able to leave the Country https://t.co/2uJSVzrjmh
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 16, 2022
پنجاب اسمبلی میں جو ہوا وہ افسوسناک ہے اور اس سب کے زمہ دار وہ لوگ ہیں جنہوں نے خریدہ فروخت کا بازار گرم کیا۔ آئین کا مذاق بنایا۔ ضمیر خریدے-بد قسمتی سے صدر پاکستان کے بھیجے گئے ریفرینس پر بھی کوئی سنوائی نہیں ہوئی
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) April 16, 2022
پورا سسٹم جب مظلوم کی آواز کو دبائے گا تو پھر انتشار پھیلے گا
تحریک انصاف کے ٹکٹ پر منتخب ہو کر ساڑھے تین سال ڈپٹی سپیکر شپ کے مزے لے کر اب نون لیگ کے ہاتھوں بک گیا
— Azhar (@MashwaniAzhar) April 16, 2022
ایسے کو جوتے پڑیں گے ہار نہیں #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور
A concerned pmln mpa today in punjab assembly. pic.twitter.com/Ueyzclz2QJ
— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi6) April 16, 2022
شدید ہنگامہ آرائی ُ
— Asad Kharal (@AsadKharal) April 16, 2022
چوہدری پرویز الہی پر تشدد ،بازو ٹوٹنے کے اطلاعات ، رانا مشہود کو دیکھا وہ کہ رہے تھے کہ اس پر حملہ کرو ، ماردو، چوہدری پرویز الہی کا الزام pic.twitter.com/aVYbX3VgSo
پنجاب اسمبلی میں پولیس گردی مردہ باد#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور @ImranKhanPTI @PTIofficial pic.twitter.com/xyu2Cn9tR7
— Senator Ejaz Chaudhary (@EjazChaudhary) April 16, 2022
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