The supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) allegedly tried to attack Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman after clashing with his followers in London on Sunday night.
Reportedly, the JUI-F leader, who is visiting Britain these days, escaped an “assault-attempt” outside a restaurant in Southall, a suburban district in west London.
Reports say that dozens of PTI workers shouting slogans rallied outside the eatery, while Fazl, along with local JUI-F leadership, was having a meal after attending a condolence meeting held at Abu Bakar Mosque in the memory of late Dr Khalid Soomro who was murdered on November 29 in Sukkur.
The PTI supporters allegedly beleaguered the cleric, who is always at odds with the PTI chief, as soon as he stepped out of the restaurant with his mates.
“A large number of people bearing PTI flags collided with the JUI-F workers, however the police arrived in the nick of time, averting a serious scuffle. Fazl escaped unscathed as his adherents pulled him through,” an eyewitness said.
After dispersing the cohorts of both the rival parties, the police recorded Fazl’s statement, in which he condemned the PTI’s “hooliganism” in the strongest of words.
According to media reports, PTI London has accused the JUI-F workers of assaulting an Insafian.
“We are giving a serious thought to lodging a complaint with the Metropolitan Police against the religious party for torturing PTI workers,” the report quoted a party spokesperson as stating.
Earlier, Fazl faced strong criticism when he arrived to attend a condolence reference for slain party leader Dr Khalid Somroo. As Fazl arrived at London’s South Hall, a group of Afghan men surrounded his car and chanted slogans against him. The protesting group alleged that the JUI-F chief was promoting jihad in Afghanistan.
