–Group of PTI workers write ‘Go Arif Alvi Go’ on walls, alleging favouritism in selection of candidates
–I will be deciding final allocation of tickets, responds Imran Khan
KARACHI: Disgruntled members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vandalised the party’s Insaf House in Karachi during their protest against the finalisation of candidates in Karachi, police officials said on Saturday.
The unknown persons first trespassed the property located on Shahra-e-Faisal and then wrote phrases on the walls against PTI Sindh President Arif Alvi. The chaos erupted when the party’s parliamentary board meeting was underway at the Insaf House. The meeting was attended by PTI’s Karachi President Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Arif Alvi, Imran Ismail, Ali Zaidi, Haleem Adil Sheikh, Liaquat Jatoi and others.
“Usurping of seats by Karachi president is unacceptable. Go Arif Alvi go,” read one slogan. The protesting workers are of the view that the parliamentary board was taking the decision of its own choice rather than prioritising the merit.
Local police contacted Insaf House soon after the incident took place, asking for details of the scuffle, SSP of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Police Station told a private news channel.
“Insaf House administration has not allowed the police to visit the premises,” the SSP said.
According to the police officer, the Insaf House administration has said that it was a party matter and was being resolved internally. The workers appealed party chairman Imran Khan to visit Karachi and personally look into the matter of awarding party tickets.
Responding to the matter, PTI Chairman Imran Khan asked the PTI members to file complaints regarding the alleged bribery in the allocation of tickets. “Any PTI member who asks for money from a prospective candidate in return for a PTI ticket; or anyone you know who gives money in order to get favoured for a PTI ticket must be reported to the Party by calling this no: 0303 5375113. I will be deciding the final allocation of tickets,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Imran Ismail told media that the parliamentary board meeting was underway when the incident occurred. He, however, said no one was injured in the violent protest. He said some party workers got enraged over tickets awarding issue and “we will look into it.”
The PTI leader said it was unclear that what prompted workers to become violent.
He said that the PTI was being considered as a winning horse and it was not possible to accommodate everyone. “Some workers may have become enraged over awarding to party ticket to someone and we will hopefully handle this situation,” he assured
