An Islamic seminary student hurled a shoe at Pakistan’s former prime minister yesterday, an act considered a major insult in the Muslim country.
Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted last year over graft charges, appeared visibly shocked as the shoe hit his shoulder while he was addressing a gathering at a seminary in Lahore.
The incident came a day after an individual hurled ink at Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, a member of the ruling party and a close Sharif aide, while he was speaking at a party rally in eastern Pakistan.
The shoe hurling was broadcast live on Pakistani TV channels. The perpetrator then jumped on stage where Sharif was standing and began chanting before he was overpowered by the crowd and handed over to the police.
According to police, the man is a student at the seminary.
Minutes later, Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf opposition party and an arch rival of Sharif who has frequently criticised Sharif, condemned the incident.
“This is not the way to express yourself and I condemn whoever did it,” Khan said.
Security personnel tackle the man after he hurled a shoe at former prime minister Sharif.
