LAHORE – A protester has thrown a shoe at Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal during a speech at the PML-N workers convention in Narowal, according to media reports on Saturday.
Media reports suggest that the man, identified as Bilal Haris, tried to reach closer to the minister as soon as he arrived on the stage to address Pakistan Muslim-League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters.
He then hurled a shoe at Iqbal, which reportedly hit his arm.
The man was removed by security guards before allegedly beaten up by the party workers.
He was later taken into custody, a private TV channel reported.
Addressing the convention, Iqbal stated the government is paying great attention to digitally empower young people to ensure that “our youth remains socioeconomically relevant in the future era and are able to match with the rapidly changing modern socioeconomic scene.”
After the incident, the minister reportedly left the ceremony at his hometown.
In a tweet, Ahsan Iqbal blamed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for “3rd degree cheap tactic”. He added: “Nothing happened neither touched me nor interrupted my speech.”
It was a 3rd degree cheap PTI tactic. Nothing happened neither touched me nor interrupted my speech.However PTI exposed,condemned by people. https://t.co/kEpTqintWq
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) February 24, 2018
‘Surgical strikes on Pakistan’s stability’
Earlier in the day, Ahsan Iqbal said that the recent steps in the backdrop of Senate elections were creating an impression that political target killing was underway in the country. Talking to the media, Ahsan warned that surgical strikes were being carried out on the country’s political stability.
“We need to be united. There are also surgical strikes being carried out on political stability in the country and there is no room for this,” he clarified.
The lawmaker continued that Pakistan was facing conspiracies and the country’s enemies were working overtime to spread anarchy adding that it would not be considered being a friend of the country if an institution or person moved it towards anarchy.
Iqbal expressed that the Pakistani voter was no longer the uninformed individual he once was, and therefore should not be underestimated.
“They [Pakistanis] are well informed and analyse everything. This is the reason that the PML-N despite steps being taken against us is not experiencing any political backlash, rather political support is increasing,” he added.
