SIALKOT: Former federal law minister Zahid Hamid’s car was besieged on Saturday by an angry mob at Pasrur courts where people kicked the vehicle and chanted slogans against him.

The former minister had gone to the courts accompanying the PML-N nominee for PP-40 (Sialkot-VI ) Mirza Iltaf Hussain who was to be allotted election symbol by the returning officer concerned.

According to police sources, those who besieged the ex-minister’s vehicle were workers of former MPA of the PML-N, Rana Liaqat Ali who has been denied the party ticket this time.

The angry workers held Mr Hamid responsible for denial of PML-N ticket to Rana Liaqat, the sources said.

As the protesters vent their anger by kicking Mr Hamid’s vehicle, his driver sped it away to avert violence.

The protesters alleged that Mirza Iltaf Hussain was awarded the PML-N ticket for the provincial assembly constituency on the recommendation of Mr Hamid, while the ex-MPA was denied the same.

After being denied the PML-N ticket, Rana Liaqat Ali would be contesting from the constituency as an independent candidate. According to observers of the local politics, he is expected to give a tough time to the PML-N candidate.

The video of the incident went viral on the social media as well.

Though some of the protesters also chanted ‘Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah’ while besieging Mr Hamid’s vehicle, police sources termed the incident an outcome of the political rift.

Mr Zahid Hamid had resigned as law minister in November 2017 after a controversy over an attempt to change the wording of oath of elected representatives following an agitation led by Tehreek-i-Labbaik leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi over the issue.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2018