ISLAMABAD, March 9: A scuffle broke out between lawmakers of PML-N and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday outside the National Assembly after a PML-N leader called PTI chief Imran Khan a “traitor” during Assembly proceedings.
PML-N MNA Mian Javed Latif called Imran Khan a “traitor” for his derogatory remarks against foreign players called to fill in at the Pakistan Super League final last week.
The scuffle broke out between PTI’s Murad Saeed and Latif as both lawmakers exited the Assembly and exchanged sharp words with each other.
Later, while commenting on the matter, Saeed claimed that PML-N parliamentarians had used derogatory and foul language against members of the PTI in the past as well.
“During Thursday’s session, Jawed Latif [should not have] called Imran Khan a traitor,” he explained. “When I protested against it, PML-N lawmakers told me they had labelled my leader as a traitor and not me,” Saeed added.
He also urged the National Assembly speaker to take notice of the issue.
Addressing a press conference following the scuffle, PML-N leader Talal Chaudhary said PTI was not conducting its politics in a respectable manner.
He said members of the PTI frequently “attack” the assembly on the floor of the Parliament and from “outside” as well.
Chaudhry added that PTI members are “narrow-minded and frustrated, just like their leader”.
Scuffles between members of ruling and opposition parties have become common occurrences, and friction between the PTI and PML-N in particular has increased considerably in recent weeks with the Supreme Court’s Panamagate case hearings in the backdrop.
In January, a scuffle had broken out as members of opposition parties requested the speaker to submit a privilege motion against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Members of the PTI had indulged in sloganeering against the government during the session and called the prime minister a “thief”.-Agencies
