LAHORE: Pandemonium prevailed and people staged a mass walkout at a public meeting held by the Conventionist Muslim leaders at Mochi Gate here today (Jan 13).

The mass walkout began when Mr Manzar-i-Alam, Secretary of the Central Organisation Committee, made an attack on some former Muslim League leaders whom he held responsible for firing on Muslims in Lahore during an anti-Qadiani agitation in 1958. A number of people shouted, “You were also one of them”, “lies, lies”, “we do not want to hear”. This followed a general commotion and people stood up.

Mr Manzar-i-Alam tried to continue his speech, but disorder continued for about 15 minutes. Party workers and policemen tried hard to make the people sit down and even used violence.

In the melee that followed, a Press photographer who tried to take snaps of the same was manhandled by the party workers.

Workers of the Conventionist Muslim League also assaulted some persons and chased them out of the meeting. Later as Chaudhri Khaliquzzman rose to address the meeting, more people left the meeting in spite of the desperate efforts of workers.—Correspondent

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