EDITORIAL: The political turmoil in a country sometimes does spill over to other lands, as was the case recently in the UK’s capital London when protestors staged demonstrations before the residences of Nawaz Sharif and Jemima Goldsmith.

But never in the way did it happen in Madinah tul Munawwara last week, where scores of pro-Imran Khan protestors virtually mobbed the Sharif government’s ministers in the Masjid-i-Nabwi. They raised anti-government slogans, hustled Marriyum Aurangzeb and pulled Shazain Bughti’s hair.

All of it happened in the profoundly sacred premises. Moreover, how provocative it was that the pandemonium was proudly recorded by the protestors on their mobile phones, and splashed on world media. It may be recalled that former interior minister and close confidante of former prime minister, Sheikh Rasheed, had warned — only a day ago — that wherever the N-League leaders would go they would be attracting hostile crowds.

Not only does this obnoxious exploit on the part of PTI supporters deeply hurt the feelings of the man on the street; it has also greatly pained the religious leadership across the sectarian divide. Scores of people have lodged complaints with the concerned authorities and First Information Reports (FIRs) have been lodged at different police stations.

The government has done well not to become the complainant but at the same time has refrained from stopping or discouraging people from moving the court and going to police stations to register such complaints.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022