Monitoring Desk:
Police and workers of the main opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League (N) clashed outside the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office on the eve of party leader Maryam Nawaz’s hearing in Lahore on Tuesday afternoon. Maryam Nawaz was scheduled to record her statement in an illegal land allotment in Raiwand in NAB office when police and her supporters clashed.
Suddenly, the scene turned violent when the vehicle of Maryam Nawaz along with a large number of supporters arrived at NAB’s office.
Television footage showed men in plain clothes pelting stones at law enforcers, who were also seen assaulting some PML-N workers with batons, water cannons and tear gas. Several television channels also showed footage and pictures of cars, purportedly part of the PML-N caravan, laden with bags full of stones.
Dozens of party workers were also seen being taken into custody by police from the site. According to the PML-N spokesperson, at least 50 workers were arrested by police during the clash.
Speaking to reporters, Maryam said she would not leave without recording her statement and that NAB should not have summoned her if they did not have the courage to listen to her replies.
“If you do not have the courage, you should have thought it through before calling me here. After calling me, you turn to shell and pelting stones on innocent PML-N workers. If I did not have a bulletproof car, think of how much damage would have been caused.”
