LAHORE: Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehzab has held Prime Minister Imran Khan responsible for the PTI workers’ attack on PML-N leaders in Islamabad, saying this is a result of the “culture of using foul language” promoted by the premier against the opposition.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, Hamza alleged such culture of ‘galam galooch’ (using abusive language) was introduced by Imran Khan into the country’s politics.

He said the country’s economy had been destroyed in the last three years and the government’s only focus was to push the opposition to the wall.

“The economy’s growth is zero and unemployment has been on the rise in the country,” he lamented.

He criticised the government for shifting his father Shehbaz Sharif from Islamabad to the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore in a hurry, ignoring his (Shehbaz’s) backache problem. His father, Opposition Leader in National Assembly, who has been in jail since September last in a money laundering case, was taken to Islamabad to cast his vote in the Senate polls.

Mr Hamza said Yousuf Raza Gilani had secured additional votes in the Senate polls because of the people’s wrath against the PTI government.

Criticising some PTI ministers who alleged that he was responsible for the increase in the chicken price, Hamza said he was in jail for the last two years. “Instead of finding excuses the government will have to deliver or go home,” he said.

Meanwhile, PML-N Punjab information secretary Ms Azma Bokhari has warned that Imran Khan “Niazi” should not test the patience of the opposition, otherwise a befitting response could be given to the attack on the PML-N leaders.

“The PTI has become a party of goons. The so-called Tiger Force goons can be seen attacking the PML-N leaders. All PTI goons had gathered outside the parliament on the order of their leadership,” she alleged and added Imran “Niazi” was sowing seeds of hatred among the youth to achieve his nefarious designs.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2021