LAHORE  - The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seemed losing it on the moral front as its supporters attacked journalists and anchors of a private media group while protesting on The Mall and other locations on Monday.
The journalists who were attacked by the PTI workers were Sana Mirza, Ameen Hafeez, Sohail Warraich, Asim Naseer, Jawad Malik, Ahmed Faraz, and cameraman Raja Amir.
The party’s activists harassed Sana Mirza to the point that she could not take it anymore and broke into tears.
The reported attacks drew much criticism from all quarters, including politicians of opposition and treasury alike. Even PTI itself regretted the attacks, and some of its leaders, including Shireen Mazari, promised inquiry.
Sana Mirza was targeted with bottles while reporter Ameen Hafeez and cameraman Raja Amir were also targeted by PTI supporters shooting marbles from slingshots. The local TV reported that reporter Ahmed Faraz received a stone to the face during a live hit from Chungi Amar Sadhu in Lahore.
PTI pledges action
Online adds: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Naeem-ul-Haq said that any worker found involved in harassing women supporters in Lahore would be expelled from the party. Speaking to a private TV channel, Haq condemned the treatment meted out to women supporters in Lahore and promised that an inquiry would be conducted by the party.
He alleged that PML-N had sent their hooligans to sabotage PTI's massive gathering. "PML-N's Gullos are everywhere while police is nowhere to be seen," he said.
The PTI leader pledged that the issue would be thoroughly investigated by the party. "PML-N has addressed at least four press conferences today. They have sent their workers to carry out such acts," he alleged.
Time to take action: Nisar
Staff reporter adds from Islamabad: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Monday said that the government had very patiently dealt with protests and sit-ins of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) so far, but now the time had come to differentiate between peaceful democratic protest and civil disobedience.
The minister gave these remarks during his meeting with the head of political Jirga and chief of Jamat-i-Islami Siraj-ul-Haq who called on him at Punjab House here.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Interior said that discussion took place on the country's overall political situation and on-going PTI protests.
Both the sides discussed the on-going PTI government talks.  However, no official word came from the government about whether the JI chief conveyed some special message to the interior minister in connection with the on-going PTI-government talks or it was a routine meeting between the two.
"There is no room for any protest, which caused blockade of roads and closure of business, in any democratic country across the world. Neither, it could be allowed to paralyze the life of ordinary citizens, anywhere," the minister said during the meeting.
Nisar viewed that they should not only advocate the spirit of democracy and law in speeches, but must reflect so, by their actions also. To achieve political stability in the country, all the political parties would have to sit together. If any particular party has some reservations, it has all the right to plead their case in the court of law, he added.
PML-N is available for any such support and cooperation, which results into country's progression and helps in peace making.
Siraj chief said that his party is fully committed and determined to extend support in achieving political stability in the country. The minister appreciated the role of Jamat-e-Islami chief and his party in this regard.
Siraj was contacted to have his version on the meeting but he did not pick up his cell.
In addition to that, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Phillip Barton also met with Nisar at the Punjab House.
During the meeting, they discussed ways and means to strengthen the bilateral relation between the two countries.