KARACHI - Aggressive political campaigns by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Muttahida Qaumi Movment is heating NA-246 for the upcoming by-poll scheduled to be held on April 23.
Both parties are gaining momentum by holding conferences, rallies alleging rivals for the unrest while authorities are unable to cool down the political heat in the constituency.
Prior to the press conference, leaders of the both parties met at the Commissioner House to defuse tension. MQM candidate Kanwar Naveed Jamil along with Muhammad Hussain represented the MQM while PTI was represented by Imran Ismail and Arif Alvi. The meeting discussed the implementation of code of conduct and maintenance of peace during the by-polls.
On the occasion Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqui and Additional IG Ghulam Qadir Thebo advised both parties to exercise patience and avoid using inappropriate language against each other. They said that authorities would take indiscriminate action in case of any violation of code of conduct.
Talking to the media after the meeting Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqui said that peace of the country is linked with Karachi and maintaining peace during the by-polls is a challenge for city`s administration. He said that he has asked the contestants to cooperate with the administration during the campaign.
He said that paramilitary ranger operation in city has produced fruitful results. He further vowed to take all measures to maintain law and order during the electoral activities. He added that proactive approach will be adopted to calm the situation on poll day.
To a question Shoaib said it is the responsibility of the government to entertain the demands of each contesting candidates. To a query about the PTI`s permission to hold public gathering at Jinnah Ground, he said that the administration is reviewing all measures including security.
AIG Ghulam Qadir Thebo called upon the political parties to abide by the code of conduct prepared ahead of the by-elections. He said rangers and the army are our institutes and will be deputed during polls. He vows to take strict action against violators.
Speaking to the media MQM candidate Kanwar Naveed Jamil said the PTI must refrain from using inappropriate language against the people of Karachi and MQM chief Altaf Hussain. “We don’t have any issue with the deployment of the army during the polls, he said claiming that the PTI will score not more than 10,000 votes”, he said.
Whereas PTI candidate for NA-246 Imran Ismail having reservation demanded to hand over national assembly constituency to the army till April 23 to avoid any untoward incident. Holding MQM candidate Kanwar Naveed Jamil culprit behind the attack on PTI`s election camp in Karimabad he said army should take over the control of the constituency to ensure security of workers, political agents and voters.
Addressing a press conference at Water pump Federal B area Karachi, after the meeting at the commissioner house Karachi on Sunday, he said that PTI workers were unable to run the door-to-door campaign, the attack on the election camp has developed fear among people while MQM workers were threatening the resident to keep away from PTI`s election campaign. He said that the MQM should remember that PTI would never back off. “If we were stopped at a place, we will go to some other place in the constituency but won’t quit,” said the PTI candidate. He further alleged that MQM workers vandalized the PTI election camp and demanded authorities to ensure security of all political parties saying that people lives are more important than the by-polls. He asked that when would the ECP take notice of the incidents occurred in constituency. He further claimed that the code of conduct was prepared at Governor House but MQM violating is it adding that party workers were unable to contact residents of the constituency due to fear.
He said that we have confidence over the police department but currently the situation requires the army. “It would be acceptable if rangers took charge of the constituency and remains till April 23.
MQM earlier stated that the mob which attacked the PTI`s election camp included none of its activists.
To a question about the FIR of Jinnah Ground incident, PTI candidate rejected the impression of attack at Jinnah ground saying that he along with party workers visited Jinnah ground. But we didn’t attack any one and if anyone wanted to arrest him he was ready, he added.
“We don’t trust city administration and even in the meeting at Governor House peace was assured but PTI election camp was destroyed”, alleged Alvi. He said that it is also the responsibility of federal interior minster Chudhary Nisar Ali Khan to assure security of the PTI candidate during election campaign. NA-246 should be handed to army before occurrence of any untoward incident resulting loss of people’s lives, he demanded.