PTI, PPP workers clash during rallies in Chanesar Goth

Both parties accused each other of taking down their flags and banners in the area

KARACHI: Tension prevailed in Chanesar Goth union council-4, after a clash between workers of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during rallies carried out by the parties in the wee hours of Sunday.

According to them, the clash allegedly started over the flags and banners, as both parties accused each other of taking down their flags.

Chanesar Goth is one of the areas of the PS-114 constituency where by-election fever is at its peak. It is expected that there will be tough competition among the parties. Therefore, all the parties started their campaigns a month before the by-election, in order to win the seat and gain popularity in Karachi before general elections in 2018.



PTI has nominated their founding member Najeeb Haroon whereas the PPP has announced Senator Saeed Ghani as their candidate. Ghani is a resident of Chanesar Goth, whereas his brother is the union council chairman of the area.

Addressing a press conference after the clash, senior PTI leader Haleem Adil Sheikh accused the PPP of using the government machinery in the area and said no other party is allowed to raise their flag here, which is turning Chanesar Goth into a no-go area.

Sheikh said that after the PPP's actions it is clear that they have lost popularity and their frustrations are pushing them to use criminal tactics in the area. He added that it seems like the Karachi operation has failed as there still are no-go areas in the city where people cannot go freely.

On the other hand, Ghani said he was holding a corner meeting in Akhtar Colony, along with his brother, when he learned about PTI workers taking down PPP flags in the area. He added that to avoid any clash, they called the police to stop the matter. PTI has no local workers there and therefore they had to call their workers from other areas to stage this drama, he claimed.