- PTI, PML-N gathering support against each other
- Traditional and social media being used to hurl threats against each other
With tempers rising between lawmakers of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over Panama Papers case that is being heard by the Supreme Court, tomorrow’s session of National Assembly may witness further tensions between the treasury and opposition benches.
Amid increasing political heat, Opposition Leader Syed Khurshid Shah Saturday called Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and asked him to give a shut up call to the PML-N ministers who were hurling open threats and abuses to the PTI leaders.
Not only the ministers have been threatening PTI leaders, social media has emerged as a new battlefield between PTI and PML-N leaders.
The PPP leader also warned that if the ministers did not cater to the democratic norms, the united opposition would take its own decision to cater to the challenge posed by the ruling party assailants.
Informed sources in PML-N and PTI have confided in Pakistan Today that both sides were contacting their allies to take them into confidence over their physical and verbal attacks against each other so as to muster maximum political support during tomorrow’s session.
A source in the PTI told that Shah Mahmood Qureshi was in touch with the parliamentary leaders of fellow opposition parties including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), PPP-Sherpao, Jamat-e-Islami (JI) and others to take them on board on their future strategy.
The PTI along with other opposition parties has already submitted a privilege motion in the house against what they called a breach of their privilege by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by making a misstatement over his offshore assets and family flats in London.
The recent scuffles in the National Assembly on Thursday between PTI and PML-N have added to the rising temperatures.
State Minister Water and Power Minister Abid Sher Ali has threatened on social media to target PTI chief Imran Khan and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi during tomorrow’s session in the National Assembly.
Soon after the scuffles during the National Assembly meeting on Thursday, a verbal spat on social media between Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Abid Sher Ali took place which may lead towards another ugly incident inside the Parliament House on Monday.
Soon after the incident in the National Assembly, Shah Mahmood Qureshi took to social media website Twitter to condemn hooliganism by PML-N lawmakers in the Assembly.
“PMLN’s behavior in NA reflects their lack of resp. for free speech& parl. norms. Nothing can deter PTI from bringing truth to the ppl of Pak,” tweeted Qureshi.
Abid Sher Ali was quick to respond, warning Qureshi and PTI Chairman Imran Khan:
“You and Imran would be on my radar in NA session. Get ready to face PML-N Lions!!!.”
When contacted, PTI lawmaker Shehryar Khan Afridi responded to Abid Sher Ali’s tweet by saying that it was heartening to see ministers howling loud.
“They can only reach to our leaders Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi over our dead bodies. Till our last breath, we will defend the rights of people of Pakistan and will fight to uphold true democratic traditions,” he said.
“Unlike others, you can’t buy us, and you will taste blood while fighting with us,” Afridi added.
It is pertinent to mention here that Thursday proved to be one of the saddest days in the political history of the country when PML-N and PTI lawmakers entered into physical scuffles in the National Assembly. Furious lawmakers from both parties hurled punches and abuses against each other.
