Karachi - A Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) convoy led by its NA-246 by-election candidate Imran Ismail was attacked with cricket bats and iron rods at Jinnah Ground near MQM headquarters Nine Zero. However, no injury was reported in the incident.
The PTI Karachi leadership visited the Jinnah ground to start their preparations for the April 19 rally that would be led by its chairman Imran Khan. The party leaders visited the ground and played cricket with the children who were present there.
When they returned from the venue they were attacked by some people with cricket bats and iron rods damaging various vehicles. However, the PTI leaders and activists managed to leave unhurt. The supporters of both parties also raised slogans in favour of their parties and against the leadership of their opponents.
The PTI leadership claimed that they were attacked by MQM activists for no reason other than that they were not happy with PTI for holding a grand public gathering in their stronghold.
However, the MQM denied it and said that the activists and the people living in the neighborhood got aggravated over PTI activists who tore apart Altaf Hussain’s posters and used abusive language against the party chief at the Martyr’s monument.
Talking to The Nation, PTI Karachi spokesman said that their party General Secretary Azizullah Khan Afridi submitted application for permission of public gathering at Jinnah ground on April 19, to be led by PTI chief Imran Khan, to the Deputy Commissioner Central.
 “After submitting our application we planned to visit the venue for examining the preparations of the event. However after our successful visit we were attacked by MQM activists,” he said adding that the PTI would not succumb to the pressure of the MQM in this election and will win this seat to end their dominance in the city.
Moreover, talking to the media, Imran Ismail said that the MQM should control its goons from attacking them and they would not retreat from giving a fight in this by-election.
“I am a Karachiite and I will fight against their threat till the end,” he said adding that the MQM wants them to withdraw from this election and the attack was an attempt in this regard.
He said that the PTI wanted to bring back the lights of the city and end the MQM threat from the metropolis. He said that the PTI would take legal action against MQM chief Altaf Hussain for inciting his activists for threatening PTI in Karachi.
On the other hand, Muttahida Qaumi Movement Leader Hyder Abbas Rizvi condemned the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate from NA-246, Imran Ismail and other party leaders for creating a mess and a clash-like situation at Jinnah Ground Azizabad.
Addressing a press conference, Rizvi said that the MQM was not feeling threatened by anybody in the NA-246 by-elections as it has been on the winning streak on the seat for the last 30 years, since 1988, when the party first announced to contest elections.
“This area is the stronghold of MQM and the people of the area who love Altaf Hussain had given them a huge mandate,” he said.
Speaking about the attack on the PTI convoy led by Imran Ismail at Jinnah ground, the MQM leader said that the PTI members tore apart the banners with pictures of MQM chief Altaf Hussain and used abusive language at the Shuhuda Monument against the party leader that incited the activists and people in the neighborhood to react to it.
He said that even the PTI leaders tried to take hostage the press club and started their press conference at the venue without prior permission of the management. The management, however, removed them from holding the conference without prior permission.
He said that the PTI cannot win this election through politics of power and threats. “Elections can only be won by winning hearts and minds of the people but the strategy of threatening people will not help PTI in winning these elections,” he said.
He said that other than PTI, MQM and other political parties, the administration of the area and the Election Commission of Pakistan were also stakeholders in this election. “It is important for the administration to ensure peaceful environment for the elections while the Election Commission of Pakistan is also responsible for providing a code of conduct.”
He also urged the ECP to convene a meeting of all candidates from the political parties participating in the contest and issue a code of conduct to ensure a peaceful election.
Meanwhile, Azizabad police station chief was suspended following the clash between the workers.
The police have said that they will register a First Information Report (FIR) if anyone from PTI or MQM approached them for registering a case.
Moreover, in a bid to stop PTI from organising a public rally at Jinnah ground, the MQM has established an election camp of the party in the ground.
According to party leaders, the entire election campaign of the party for NA-246 would be monitored by the leaders from that camp. “The elected representatives and party office bearers will be present 24/7 to oversee the campaign,” they said.
Cross FIRs registered
Police late on Tuesday registered an FIR against MQM chief Altaf Hussain and unknown people for attacking the PTI rally in Azizabad.
The FIR (No 96/2015) was registered at Azizabad police station on behalf of PTI Karachi General Secretary Azizullah Khan Afridi and activist Arsalan.
The MQM also got registered an FIR against PTI leaders for tearing off party billboards and posters of Altaf Hussain. PTI’s Imran Ismail, Azizulllah Afridi and other party workers have been nominated in the FIR. MQM leaders Dr Khalid Mehmood Siddiqui, Abdul Haseeb and party workers were present in the police station for FIR registration.