Shahbaz Sharif narrowly escapes shoe attack in Lahore
Journalist throws shoe at Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif at South Asia Labour Conference, police arrests him.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. PHOTO: ASIM SHAHZAD
LAHORE:
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif escaped a shoe attack at the South Asia Labour Conference in Lahore, Express News reported on Thursday.
The attacker turned out to be TV channel Awaz's Bureau Chief of Lahore, Imdad Ali, who threw a shoe at the Punjab chief minister but missed his target. The police arrested him after Shahbaz left the hotel at which the conference was taking place. The chief minister, however, ordered the release of the journalist.
“Nobody here supports journalists. I threw my shoe at him in protest. People who attacked senior journalist Hamid Mir should be arrested,” Imdad Ali said.
Shahbaz has now joined the list of high-ranking officials who have been attacked by shoes. On March 29, a shoe was hurled at former president Pervez Musharraf by an angry protester. Arbab Ghulam Rahim was also struck by a shoe hurled by a Pakistan Peoples Party supporter when he was still the Sindh chief minister.
Shoes have been thrown at international leaders such as former US secretary of state Hilary Clinton, former US president George W Bush and former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the past as well.
Conference
The South Asia Labour Conference, which was inaugurated by Shahbaz, kicked off today. It aims to strengthen cooperation among SAARC countries, identify common gaps in labour market governance, compliance with international labour standards and labour productivity in South Asia.
Participants of the conference will explore joint regional strategies to improve labour productivity and enhance labour competitiveness.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif escaped a shoe attack at the South Asia Labour Conference in Lahore, Express News reported on Thursday.
The attacker turned out to be TV channel Awaz's Bureau Chief of Lahore, Imdad Ali, who threw a shoe at the Punjab chief minister but missed his target. The police arrested him after Shahbaz left the hotel at which the conference was taking place. The chief minister, however, ordered the release of the journalist.
“Nobody here supports journalists. I threw my shoe at him in protest. People who attacked senior journalist Hamid Mir should be arrested,” Imdad Ali said.
Shahbaz has now joined the list of high-ranking officials who have been attacked by shoes. On March 29, a shoe was hurled at former president Pervez Musharraf by an angry protester. Arbab Ghulam Rahim was also struck by a shoe hurled by a Pakistan Peoples Party supporter when he was still the Sindh chief minister.
Shoes have been thrown at international leaders such as former US secretary of state Hilary Clinton, former US president George W Bush and former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the past as well.
Conference
The South Asia Labour Conference, which was inaugurated by Shahbaz, kicked off today. It aims to strengthen cooperation among SAARC countries, identify common gaps in labour market governance, compliance with international labour standards and labour productivity in South Asia.
Participants of the conference will explore joint regional strategies to improve labour productivity and enhance labour competitiveness.