Supporters of Pakistan’s federal minister Shahzain Bugti allegedly attacked former deputy speaker Qasim Suri in Islamabad on Thursday, shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was confronted by detractors at Islam’s holiest of holy sites.
A video shared by Pakistani journalist Murtaza Ali Shah shows a group of men approaching Qasim Suri while raising slogans of “PTI Murdabad”. The former deputy speaker belongs to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which was booted from power after its head Imran Khan lost a vote of confidence earlier this month. Notably, Suri had dismissed the no-confidence motion tabled against Khan in the National Assembly.
Before Suri can get away, the men surround and assail him. Fists fly, as do dishes and miscellaneous tableware.
Shahzain Bugti’s supporters in Islamabad attack former deputy speaker Qasim Suri in retaliation of what happened to Shahzain in Saudi. Very unfortunate. pic.twitter.com/q5ldqDpLJy
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) April 28, 2022
The attack came shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his coterie of ministers were catcalled and jeered at by pilgrims at Masjid-e-Nabawi in Madina. Epithets like “chor chor” (thieves), traitors and beggars were hurled at them by the angry protesters, believed to be supporters of ousted PM Imran Khan and his PTI party.
After the incident, it was reported that Saudi police arrested the protesters for violating the sanctity of the holy site.
pic.twitter.com/db2SLGlMvw
— Asad Kharal (@AsadKharal) April 28, 2022
The Shehbaz Sharif-led delegation is on a three-day bilateral visit to Saudi Arabia. The delegation comprises newly sworn-in foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Information Minister Murriyam Aurangzeb, Shahzain Bugti, and other high-powered government officials.
Speaking to reporters, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb indirectly blamed Imran Khan and his party workers for the protest.
“I will not name this person on this holy land because I do not want to use this land for politics. But they have destroyed the [Pakistani] society,” she said, as quoted by the Express Tribune.
On the other hand, former human rights minister Shireen Mazari said in a tweet that the “imported government of criminals brought in by US regime change conspiracy” will be shamed b