Session Adjourned for 10 Minutes Amid Chaos in KP Assembly. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly descended into chaos on Tuesday as supporters of two lawmakers clashed over corruption allegations made by a PTI-P member against a cabinet member. The tension was palpable, with reports indicating that it was nearly impossible to hear anything in the assembly hall.
For the past two days, a dispute has been brewing between PTI-Parliamentarian Iqbal Wazir from South Waziristan and Special Assistant to the KP Chief Minister on Relief, Nek Muhammad Dawar, following Wazir’s accusations of corruption against Dawar.
On Tuesday, supporters of Nek Muhammad, seated in the assembly gallery, hurled insults at Wazir and threatened him, prompting a swift reaction from Wazir’s followers. The situation escalated into a physical altercation in the assembly hall, which security officials struggled to control.
A heated exchange also erupted between treasury and opposition members, particularly when ANP lawmaker Nisar Baaz expressed frustration over being denied the opportunity to speak. He questioned, “Why are we not given time to speak?” Despite assurances from colleagues, the tensions persisted, leading KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati to adjourn the session for 10 minutes.
Once the speaker left the hall, Wazir continued to accuse Nek Muhammad and the PTI lawmaker from South Waziristan of corruption. In response, supporters of PTI in the press gallery threatened him. Wazir attempted to confront them but was stopped by other assembly members. Meanwhile, outside the hall, supporters from both sides engaged in further clashes.
Reports indicate that the behavior of PTI lawmakers’ supporters within the assembly has been deemed “inappropriate.” Assembly staff cleared the galleries, instructing all visitors to leave. Both Wazir and Nek Muhammad were escorted to separate chambers.
In past instances of similar unrest, the speaker has sought reconciliation between the opposing parties, but the atmosphere on Tuesday remained tense and unmanageable.
