Chaos in Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly after PTI members attack deputy speaker
The Hindu
TV footage showed Dost Muhammad Mazari was slapped, punched and dragged by the PTI members before the security guards managed to rescue him
Ruckus erupted in Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly on Saturday as lawmakers from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) manhandled deputy speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari when he arrived to chair the crucial session convened to elect the new Chief Minister of the province.
The lawmakers from the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan attacked Mr. Mazari and pulled his hair for changing his loyalty.
TV footage showed Mr. Mazari was slapped, punched and dragged by the PTI members before the security guards managed to rescue him.
The PTI lawmakers brought "lotas" to the house and started chanting "lota, lota" (turncoats) as they lashed out at dissident PTI lawmakers who parted ways with the party and decided to support the Opposition.
They said they would not allow 24 dissident members of their party to cast the vote in the Chief Minister’s election.
A tough competition is expected between the two candidates — Hamza Shahbaz and Parvez Elahi. Mr. Hamza, the son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is the joint candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMl-N) and other coalition parties, while PML-Q's Mr. Elahi is being backed by the PTI.
If the rebel PTI members are allowed to cast their vote, Mr. Hamza is certain to get elected as the Chief Minister.
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