Imran Khan called 'traitor', Pakistani leaders clash in Parliament

Islamabad: The Pakistani lawmakers on Thursday brawled in Parliament after a leader of the ruling PML-N party called cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan a "traitor".

PML-N lawmaker Mian Javed Latif, during a debate in the National Assembly -- lower house of the bicameral federal legislature -- said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Khan's attitude towards recently-concluded cricket tournament Pakistan Super League (PSL) was that of a "traitor", as he opposed the final in Lahore and ridiculed foreign players.

As Latif was moving out of Parliament, he entered into a heated argument with PTI's Murad Saeed, leading to a scuffle between the two lawmakers. However, other lawmakers intervened and saved the situation from getting out of control.

Later, Saeed said that ruling party lawmaker had no reason to call his leader a traitor and asked Speaker of the National Assembly to take notice of the incident.

PML-N's Talal Chaudhry accused PTI of deliberately creating unpleasant scenes inside and outside Parliament.

House Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah condemned the incident and asked the Speaker to probe and punish the lawmaker who initiated the brawl.

Khan had criticised the government's decision to go ahead with the PSL final in Lahore after a series of terror strikes in the country killed more than 100 people. He had also criticised the foreign cricketers participating in the tournament.