Lahore, July 28, 2025: The Punjab Assembly witnessed unprecedented chaos on Monday when a heated exchange between treasury and opposition benches escalated into a physical brawl, with lawmakers slapping each other during the session.
The commotion erupted after government MPA Hassan Riaz interrupted a speech by a deputy opposition member, prompting opposition MPA Khalid Nisar Dogar to retaliate by slapping Riaz. The incident triggered an uproar, with several lawmakers from both sides joining the scuffle on the assembly floor.
Acting Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar attempted to restore order but was forced to suspend the session for five minutes as the situation spiraled out of control.
According to sources, the altercation stemmed from verbal taunts exchanged between Hassan Riaz and opposition MPA Khalid Zubair Nisar. The situation deteriorated further when Provincial Minister Zeeshan Rafiq intervened, intensifying the confrontation.
Despite repeated warnings from the acting Speaker, the melee continued, with members seen trading slaps in what turned into a full-blown fracas.
The brawl has drawn widespread condemnation and raised serious concerns about the decorum and conduct of elected representatives. Political observers say the incident tarnishes the image of the Assembly and erodes public trust in democratic institutions.
“This is not how elected representatives should behave,” remarked a senior Assembly official on condition of anonymity. “Such actions undermine the dignity of the House, and we hope strict disciplinary measures will follow to set a precedent.”
As of Monday evening, no formal disciplinary action has been announced against the lawmakers involved. However, the Assembly did suspend action against 26 opposition members earlier in the day on unrelated grounds.
The incident has reignited calls for enforcing stricter codes of conduct within legislative bodies to maintain decorum and ensure meaningful debate.
