Three PTI MPAs arrested for attacking deputy speaker

LAHORE: Three members of the Punjab Assembly were arrested Saturday for attacking deputy speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari as the ruckus in the house delayed the election for the chief minister’s slot.

The session was scheduled to start at 11:30am, but despite the passage of nearly six hours, it has not yet started as government lawmakers — PTI and PML-Q — resorted to violence.

The lawmakers of the ruling party threw “lotas” at Mazari first, attacked him and pulled his hair despite the presence of security guards. The deputy speaker left the hall after this.

Before assaulting Mazari, the PTI lawmakers caused a ruckus when they brought “lotas” to the house and started chanting “lota, lota” (turncoats) as they lashed out at dissident PTI MPAs who parted ways with the party and decided to support the Opposition.

As the situation got intense and requests were made for the police to control the situation, the anti-riot force personnel entered the assembly wearing bulletproof jackets and made the arrests of the PTI MPAs.

The police entered the premises of the Punjab Assembly through the old building. A large number of the female police force are also present inside the assembly. 

Although the police took control of the speaker’s dais after much struggle, the women MPAs have again surrounded it and are chanting slogans against the Opposition.