Scuffle breaks out in Senate visitors’ gallery

ISLAMABAD: A brief scuffle erupted between the PTI MNA Hamidul Haq and reportedly Abdullah, the son of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in the Visitors’ Gallery on Monday as the result for the Senate chairman was being announced.

The premier's son, Abdullah Abbasi, was sitting on the left of Haq while another individual, reportedly Abdullah's friend was sitting to his left. As the presiding officer was announcing the results, Haq got up from his seat to shout slogans in favour of the opposition.

As Haq was shouting slogans, he fell on Abdullah. As he fell on Abdullah, someone seized his neck from behind. However, in a chat with journalists, State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb denied the impression that the prime minister’s son was involved in the incident and hastened to add that the prime minister had apologised to the PTI lawmaker.

Talking to the media persons, Haq alleged that he was grabbed from behind and an attempt was made to suffocate him. Haq said he managed to wriggle out of the grip after biting the grabber.

Haq said he was not sure whether it was the prime minister’s son or somebody else but whosoever had been bitten by him was the man who had grabbed him from behind. He also showed scratches on the lower side of his neck. The sergeants at arms intervened and defused the situation.