The viral “Go Nawaz Go” slogan found its way into the upper echelons of the government as it provoked a brawl between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders during a Senate standing committee meeting on Tuesday.
Taking a jab at PTI MNAs Hamidul Haq and Saleemur Rehman for attending the session despite having submitted resignations to the National Assembly speaker, PML-N leaders light-heartedly chanted “Come Imran Come”.
To this, Haq responded with “Go Nawaz Go,” and as the exchange of slogans continued, Haq reportedly punched PML-N’s Sarzameen Khan, according to members present in the meeting.
According to sources, Sarzameen was injured in the altercation. However, talking to reporters, the minister denied the reports and claimed he was the one who punched Haq, who fell to the floor after the beating. The fight ended after female members of the committee intervened. The meeting was postponed abruptly to avoid further altercation.
Haq admitted punching the PML-N member, saying “I punched Sarzameen when he spoke against PTI female workers participating in the dharna in Islamabad.” Haq was also injured during the scuffle.
The Senate Standing committee meeting on communications was called to discuss issues regarding ongoing work on the Lyari Expressway. Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNA Sufyan Yousaf was presiding over the meeting, during which officials of National Highway Authority were meant to brief the lawmakers.
‘GO NAWAZ GO’ HAUNTING PML-N:
On Monday, a young doctor was beaten up as he stood up in a convention of the Pakistan Medical Association and chanted “Go Nawaz Go” in the face of the chief guest, Punjab CM’s Health Adviser Khawaja Salman Rafique.
Other PML-N leaders have also been caught in embarrassing situations as crowds start chanting “Go Nawaz Go” during their speeches.
Hamza Shahbaz, son of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, was forced to cut short his speech during his address to mark World Tourism Day in Alhamra hall in Lahore as crowds started chanting “Go Nawaz Go”.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s speech at Preston University was also targeted when a student chanted “Go Nawaz Go”. However, Iqbal was not perturbed and continued his speech, while the student was expelled from the institution.