Islamabad: A lawmaker of the assembly from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was roughed up by members of the treasury benches in the sparking protests by opposition, which staged a sit-in in the House.

The trouble erupted after Mohammad Tahir Khokhar, a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, tried yesterday to distribute copies of a notification that he said related to huge expenses on foreign trips made by "prime minister" Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and his family.

Khokhar tried to distribute copies of the notification after his mike was switched off and he was unable to speak on the issue. He said Rs 1.59 million was withdrawn from the budget of the Kashmir Liberation Cell for a 20-day tour to Geneva by the "prime minister's" son Usman Ali Khan and three "relatively unknown" women.

Law Minister Abdul Rashid Abbasi tore up the copy of the notification given to him and Forests Minister Ghulam Murtaza Gillani tried to snatch the remaining copies from Khokhar. Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Raza then slapped Khokhar while the entire episode was captured on camera and beamed by TV news channels.

Food Minister Abdul Qayyum Niazi also reportedly punched Khokhar. Khokhar, who was bleeding from his left ear, was admitted to a nearby hospital. Sources said his eardrum had been damaged.

Members said this was probably the first incident of its kind in the assembly, which was set up in 1970.

The incident triggered verbal duels between treasury and opposition members, who shouted at each other.
Source : PTI