Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan accepts challenge to box with Maryam Nawaz, PML-N responds

• Boxer Amir Khan announced a boxing match between Dr Firdous Awan and Maryam Nawaz
• Dr Firdous Awan accepted the challenge
• Azma Bokhari says Maryam is saving people from the government's punches of inflation, unemployment and corruption

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar's aide Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Sunday accepted a challenge to box with PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz. 

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The chief minister's assistant was addressing a press conference with boxers Amir Khan and Muhammad Waseem when the former challenged her to fight Maryam Nawaz in the ring, saying it will be one of the highest rated fights in Pakistan. 

Dr Firdous Awan accepted, and took a swipe at the PML-N leadership. "Prime Minister Imran Khan has knocked out Mian Nawaz Sharif using his legal punches," she said, adding that the government was in talks with the British authorities to have the former prime minister deported. 

PML-N's Azma Bokhari responded to Dr Firdous on Twitter, saying that Maryam Nawaz was a "Rajkumari" who was trying to save the masses from the government's punches of inflation, unemployment and corruption. 

"Baji, you're quite aware that she is a Rajkumari," Azma Bokhari tweeted. "Also, she is protecting the masses from your punches of inflation, unemployment and corruption."

Tensions have been on the rise between the government and the Opposition ever since the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) launched its anti-government campaign a few months ago. 

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The PDM has said it will hold a long march in Islamabad, with various heads of political parties, who are part of the alliance, set to lead rallies from their respective provinces. 

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari have vowed to send the government packing next year. 

However, PM Imran Khan is sticking to his guns, challenging the Opposition to gather a massive crowd against him in Islamabad. He has alleged that Opposition leaders are demanding an NRO from him over their corruption cases, and has said he will never compromise on it.