Imran Khan’s PTI had threatened to demolish wall of Zardari’s home
A large contingent of security forces surrounded former president Asif Ali Zardari’s private residence on Saturday after Imran Khan’s party said it would launch a campaign to demolish a wall outside the building.
Policemen and paramilitary troops surrounded Bilawal House, named after Zardari’s son, to avert a possible clash between workers of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and the Pakistan People’s Party.
Hundreds of workers of the Tehreek-e-Insaf and PPP began assembling outside Bilawal House on Saturday. To reduce tensions, authorities opened one side of the road that had been blocked for years for security reasons.
“We have opened one side of the road for normal use and set up CCTV cameras for security purposes. There is a large contingent of police to avert any clash,” police officer Aamir Farooqi said.
Khan’s party announced on Friday it intended to demolish the wall outside Bilawal House, which it claimed hampered normal life and traffic.
The party said it would organise a protest near Bilawal House and demolish the high wall built when Zardari was the president. Zardari completed his five-year term earlier this year. The PPP was routed in the general election but it is power in Sindh province.
PPP leader Najmi Alam warned there would be clashes if workers of Khan’s party try to bring down the wall forcibly.
“The Bilawal House is the residence of our martyred leader Benazir Bhutto and we will not tolerate anyone trying to create problems or play politics with it,” he said.
Tehreek-e-Insaf parliamentarian Arif Alvi claimed the wall was built illegally and the Sindh High Court had ordered its demolition. “We are just following court orders,” he said.
Alvi claimed security arrangements outside Bilawal House were illegal and a source of nuisance for local residents. “This is not politics, this is about people’s rights. The protests will continue tomorrow and eventually this wall will come down,” he said.
Benazir Bhutto, who headed the PPP when she was assassinated in 2007, had moved to Bilawal House after her marriage to Zardari though the official residence of the Bhutto family is 70 Clifton in another part of the same area.
good move, bring the house down too.
We khans are always refugees (runaway). Brave Sindhis will give protection n shelters to us. Sindhis has history to fight foreign invaders. Sindhis are brave fighters. Sindhis have ability to lead nation. PTI should merge in PPP a great party.
Khans are crying! started building wall. Latest story!
At least the partial opening of the road is (partial) success for the residents of Clifton and other adjoining areas passing through Block-2.
The PPP jiyalas must not forget that 70 Clifton used to be (and is still) on the most secured road in old Clifton yet Murtaza Bhutto died in a cold blooded murder in August1996 and could not even reach the Hospital (then a few yards away).
Asif Ali Zardari and his children spend most of their time in Dubai. These days they are here only to attend the 6th barsi (death anniversary) of Benazir Bhutto.
The Zardari-Bhuttos might not be impacted but the road closure has definitely made the life miserable for millions of citizens of Clifton.
The High Court had directed removal of encroachments long ago but the provincial government of PPP has never been interested in implementing the orders of the judiciary.
The headline is wrong. No one is asking to demolish the wall of bilawal house. the protest is about the wall on the main road to block general traffic
Comments are closed.