In an unusual scene, a full-blown brawl erupted in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday when tensions flared between government and opposition members. The chaos began when opposition lawmakers grew frustrated over being denied the chance to speak by the speaker of the assembly.
The situation quickly escalated when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members Nek Wazir and Iqbal Wazir, both from Waziristan, clashed. Their supporters soon joined in, turning the assembly into a battleground with punches and kicks exchanged.
In the Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, clashes broke out between government and opposition members, with both sides resorting to kicks and punches, resulting in torn clothes. pic.twitter.com/NnYSlRe6kq
— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) October 8, 2024
The speaker attempted to restore order by calling a 15-minute recess, but the disorder persisted, forcing the session to be adjourned.
Earlier in the session, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur delivered a forceful speech, criticizing the opposition and defending the government’s stance. He condemned a recent attack on the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad and referred to the May 9, 2023, attack on the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore as a “false flag operation.”
Opposition leader Ahmad Kundi of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) countered Gandapur’s remarks, calling for responsible governance. He highlighted the urgent issue of 5.5 million out-of-school children in the province, urging the assembly to prioritize education and stability.
Despite efforts to mediate, including police intervention and the arrest of three individuals related to MPA Iqbal Wazir, order could not be restored, and the assembly session was ultimately adjourned. The building was cleared, and lights were turned off as participants were asked to leave.
