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Updated 12 Mar, 2018 08:35pm

Scuffle breaks out between PTI lawmaker and PM Abbasi's son in Senate

A scuffle broke out between Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MNA Hamidul Haq and the prime minister's son, Abdullah Abbasi, in the Upper House on Monday evening, moments before the announcement declaring Senator Sadiq Sanjrani as the newly-elected Senate chairman was to be made, DawnNewsTV reported.

In a tense contest between PML-N backed Senator Raja Zafarul Haq and opposition-backed Sanjrani — an independent candidate from Balochistan — the latter came out comfortable on top with 57 votes, four more than the required count and 11 more than his rival.

As soon as Sanjrani was announced the new Senate Chairman, Haq had started chanting slogans in PTI's favour which angered Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's son.

A heated verbal argument ensued between the two, which quickly escalated into a brawl.

The two were eventually separated by lawmakers and Senate staff present in the gallery.

Subsequently, Haq was taken outside the house by PML-N leader Chaudhry Jafer Iqbal, while security guards took Abdullah outside the House.

Later, while talking to media persons outside the Senate, Haq said the sloganeering had started before the formal announcement of the successful candidate.

"As the decision was announced, I too started chanting slogans in support of my party leader. That's when two gentlemen grabbed me from behind and choked my throat," he alleged.

The PTI lawmaker said he will file a complaint with the National Assembly speaker.

"I will ask how someone who is not a lawmaker came to the upper house accompanied by three guards," he complained.

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