MULTAN: Club-wielding PML-N workers led by the party’s district chief stormed the residence of PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi here on Wednesday.

The workers are reported to have gathered on a call of the ruling party’s district president Bilal Butt for a sit-in at Chowk Daulat Gate to protest against alleged anti-democracy stance of Mr Qureshi.

Also read: PTI to resign from all assemblies — except KP: Shah Mehmood Qureshi

The charged-up protesters moved towards the residence of Mr Qureshi and attacked the gate and windows of Zakriya Complex (meant for devotees of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakriya), with sticks and set on fire PTI banners.

Supporters gathered on a call of the ruling party’s district president to protest against the PTI leader’s stance

They shouted slogans against Mr Qureshi and in favour of the PML-N and democracy.

Police arrived on calls made by Mr Qureshi’s family and dispersed the crowd.

Talking to the media, Mr Butt said that if PTI workers could gather in front of parliament why couldn’t PML-N workers go to the residence of Mr Qureshi. Besides other office-bearers, the party’s district general secretary Shaikh Athar Mumtaz, standing counsel Zaffar Qadir and Azhar Mughal were also reported to be in the crowd.

Condemning the attack on his residence, Mr Qureshi said in a statement that the double-faced PML-N government had been exposed. On the one hand the government was seeking dialogue and on the other it had attacked his house.

He said the attack might instigate the PTI to retaliate and that could lead to a civil war.

“The government is in a state of nervousness and cannot find a way out,” he said.

He said earlier attacks had been arranged in Lahore and Gujranwala under the leadership of Gullu Butt and Pomi Butt and now ‘Billu Butt’ had attacked his house. Mr Qureshi said the Punjab government should register an FIR against the attackers and arrest them.

The PML-N’s district general secretary denied Mr Butt’s involvement in the attack and said that in fact he was trying to restrain the workers.

He said the protest call had been given by the party’s youth wing and he was against the crowd moving towards the residence of Mr Qureshi.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014