‘Hooliganism’: politicians condemn violence in PA

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 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".

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

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."