UK Parliament attack: British-Pakistani MPs narrate five hour-long ordeal

By
Murtaza Ali Shah
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LONDON: British-Pakistani members of parliaments spoke exclusively to Geo News on London attack and shared what happened inside the UK Parliament during the terrifying five hours of lockdown.

Imran Hussain and Lord Qurban Hussain Saif that the parliamentarians had just finished voting on a pensions bill at around 3:00 GMT when they were told that there was a serious security situation outside the parliament. The deputy speaker instructed everyone to remain inside the building, “perhaps at the instructions of the director of security”.

“Everyone was shocked. We were trapped inside for five hours. We were astonished something like that could happen in a peaceful city like London,” said Lord Qurban.

He said that there were between 2,000 and 3,000 people inside the building at the time, including parliamentarians, visitors and elderly people.

During the five hours, people were shifted between various parts of the building, he added.

Asked whether they were aware of the developments outside, he said that the authorities weren’t providing any information, but social media and the internet helped them keep abreast of the happenings.

Imran Hussain and Lord Qurban strongly condemned the attacks, and expressed sympathy with those affected by the attack.

“People who carry out such attacks belong to no religion. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who lose their lives in the attack,” said Lord Qurban.