- Workers of MQM and PTI clash at Azizabad ahead of by-polls in NA-246
- PTI leader Imran Ismail says will not cow down to MQM’s ‘hooliganism’, says will ‘break shackles of fear’ in Karachi
- MQM leader claims PTI ‘provoked area residents by disrespecting martyrs’ monument’
A case was registered against Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and 400 others with Azizabad Police on Tuesday after unidentified men, reportedly from MQM, attacked the convoy of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding member and candidate in NA-246 by-polls, Imran Ismail near Jinnah Ground in Karachi.
A tense situation was witnessed at Azizabad when PTI candidate Ismail along with other leaders visited Jinnah Ground to inspect the venue of their upcoming political gathering in connection with April 23 by-election.
Shortly after their arrival, MQM workers reached the venue and started chanting slogans against the PTI leadership. Some MQM workers carrying bats allegedly smashed windowpanes of Ismail’s vehicle. The PTI candidate had to leave the venue after the situation turned violent.
Television footage showed men attacking the convoy and smashing the windows of a white Land Cruiser with cricket bats as it drove off. The windows of another car were also smashed and jeering people were seen kicking the vehicles.
Talking to reporter, Ismail accused MQM workers of attacking his party’s supporters in Azizabad. He said that his party would not allow hooliganism in Karachi.
“MQM activists manhandled and injured PTI workers. They also smashed the windows of our vehicles. PTI will lodge an FIR against the people responsible for this vandalism. I was not expecting this from the MQM. We have come here to make arrangements for our rally. I want to tell the people that MQM is a wrong number and just a handful of people are with the MQM. We will break the shackles of fear in Karachi.
Claiming that he was warmly greeted by people in Azizabad, Ismail said it was “a matter of principle” for the party to hold a rally at Jinnah Ground. He said that a request had already been filed with the deputy commissioner for permission.
Ismail said that the PTI was holding talks with other parties but was going to contend for the seat without forming alliances. “Previously, the Jamaat-e-Islami used to claim that it [Azizabad] was theirs and said ‘no one apart from us can win’. They were defeated by the MQM. No one rules forever. MQM will hopefully be defeated by the PTI,” he added.
“You think that our influence has been defused ─ I feel our influence has increased. I am fighting elections on this basis. Did you see the result for Kashmir? All the parties were on one side and PTI on the other─ and we still got the seat. We will show you the same thing here.”
Ismail’s announcement of a possible rally comes ahead of a by-election for NA-246 — a constituency left vacant last month when MQM MNA Nabeel Gabol resigned from his seat. The MQM has nominated former Hyderabad nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil as their candidate for the NA-246 constituency.
MQM CONDEMNS PTI’S ‘PROVOCATION’:
While addressing a press conference at Nine Zero later in the evening, MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi said that PTI leader Imran Ismail and his supporters tore down posters and banners of party chief Altaf Hussain.
Denouncing the “provocation” of PTI in Azizabad, Rizvi said, “PTI activists have disrespected the martyrs monument located adjacent to Jinnah Ground. They abused MQM leadership and its martyrs while standing on the monument which triggered a violent response from the residents of the area.”
The MQM leader went on to say that MQM has no threat whatsoever from any other party with respect to the upcoming by-election. He urged the authorities to develop a code of conduct for holding election in NA-246.
“We have no threat from any party on this seat. MQM has been winning this constituency for 30 years. Kanwar Naveed will win the by-election with a big lead,” he said, adding that PTI could not win the hearts of people with its “undemocratic mindset”.