Attack on PTI rally triggers protests

Charged workers burn tyres at over 18 intersections in city

KARACHI:

A large number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers took to the streets to lodge their protest against the attempt to assassinate party chief Imran Khan.

Charged workers blocked roads by setting tyres on fire at more than 18 places in Karachi against the firing on the Long March rally in Gujranwala that caused injuries to Imran Khan and other leaders.

Parliamentary Leader Sindh Assembly, Khurram Sher Zaman, PTI Karachi President, Bilal Ghaffar, and other leaders including Ashraf Jabbar Qureshi, Raja Azhar, Shehzad Qureshi, Subhan Sahil, Shahab Imam and Saima Nadeem were present in the protest at Clifton.

They condemned the attack on PTI chairman and demanded immediate action against those who plotted the attack.

“I request the business community to show solidarity with Imran Khan by closing their businesses today (Friday),” Zaman said adding, “Imran is fighting for the benefit of future generations.”

PTI Karachi President Bilal Ghaffar addressing the protestors on Sharea Faisal said that 220 million people are praying for Imran. “Federal government will be responsible if anything happens to Imran Khan.”

He urged Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the incident, while asserting that everyone knows the past record of Rana Sanaullah.

PTI leader Ashraf Qureshi talking to the media during protest on Sharea Faisal requested the citizens of Karachi to show solidarity with Imran Khan who is fighting for the survival of the next generations. PTI MPA Raja Azhar said PTI workers are protesting all over the city.

“We will be unable to control our charged workers if the Sindh government attempted to spoil the peaceful protest,” Azhar said.

Moreover, opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, Haleem Adil Sheikh wrote in his Twitter statement that today’s incident happened like the attempt on the life of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, and the planning was also done in the same way. He said Rana Sanaullah was already giving threats to Imran Khan.

PTI regional leaders, officials and workers staged dharna (sit-in) in different areas of the city including Clifton Teen Talwar Chowrangi, Nursery, Insaf House on Sharea Faisal, North Nazimabad, Five Star Chowrangi, Hub River Road, Northern Bypass near Mowach Mor, and North Karachi Power House Chowrangi.

Protestors burnt tyres at Qayyumabad Chawrangi, Al Asif Square, Mauripur Jinnah Bridge, Federal B Area, Ayesha Manzil Chowrangi, Banaras and Millennium Mall Chawrangi along Dalmia Road and other areas.

They chanted slogans against perpetrators of the incident particularly Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, the ruling clique and heads of national institutions.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2022.