ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: PPP leader Zamurrad Khan’s attempt on Thursday to overpower a heavily armed man in the Blue Area of the capital has triggered a new controversy in the country.

While the president and the prime minister commended the effort of Mr Khan, a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah, who is Punjab’s law minister, vehemently criticised Mr Khan’s action.

President Asif Ali Zardari and the PPP leadership lauded the courage of Zamurrad Khan who risked his life, but helped the law-enforcing agencies to get hold of the armed man in Islamabad.

The president appreciated the role of security agencies which handled the situation in a discreet manner and averted any mishap.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered an inquiry into the incident and directed the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to present a report into the incident at the earliest.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad police have registered an FIR against Mr Khan under Section 186 of Pakistan Penal Code, the law concerning obstructing government officers while performing their duty.

Mr Khan, who is also a lawyer by profession, said he put his life at risk just to save the life of dozens of witnesses and the children of gunman Mohammad Sikandar. “I did not care about my life because I left my house with a commitment to save the life of the people as they were vulnerable to indiscriminate firing by the gunman,” he said.

He said politicians from all political parties, including his opponents and people from all walks of life, were visiting his home to felicitate him.