–Videos making rounds on social media show Hassaan Niazi throwing stones at police, damaging police vehicle
–In series of tweets, premier’s nephew blames Punjab govt for violent protest, says he’s ashamed over deaths of patients
A day after scores of lawyers stormed the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), it has emerged that Hassaan Khan Niazi, the nephew of Prime Minister Imran Khan, was a part of the violent mob that attacked the health facility.
In multiple posts shared on social media, Niazi is seen among the disgruntled protesters outside the PIC, throwing stones at people and even damaging a police vehicle. Interestingly the two FIRs registered against the violent lawyers do not mention Hassaan Niazi’s name.
How come this video is not the headline on all channels? And why is @HniaziISF not among the 40 who were arrested? Is it just because his uncle is the Prime Minister? #Lawyers pic.twitter.com/WmOcODVwdI
— Imran Khan (@iopyne) December 12, 2019
However, as the protest turned violent, Niazi tweeted that the protest had ceased to be peaceful and blamed the ensuing chaos on the absence of the writ of the Punjab government.
Not peaceful anymore. Absence of Punjab govt. was going to cause this chaos. CM Punjab doesn’t know the law and the lawyers https://t.co/db7uLhOgVY
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) December 11, 2019
The lawyer further tweeted that he felt ashamed of himself and that his support and protest was limited to the initiation of legal action against the concerned doctors.
After watching this clip I feel ashamed of myself. This is murder!!!
My support and protest was limited to initiation of legal action against the concerned doctors. I only stand for peaceful protests.
It’s sad day and I condemn my own self for supporting this protest now pic.twitter.com/Pc6FKaYypo— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) December 11, 2019
At least three patients lost their lives and several others were injured after a mob of disgruntled lawyers stormed the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), ransacked the hospital wards and operation theatres and tortured the staff and visitors.
Reportedly, the lawyers were protesting against a video that went viral on social media on Tuesday, in which a doctor is seen narrating an encounter with some lawyers in front of a group of medical and paramedical staff. According to the doctor in the video, a group of lawyers had gone to the inspector general of police and told him to charge “two doctors” under Section 7 of ATA.
He narrated that the IG had refused while the lawyers had urged him to press charges, saying “they could save face” that way.
