Daggers drawn: PTI workers protest killing of party leader in Karachi

MQM activists hold protest in G-B, ask Imran Khan to refrain from leveling allegations.

GILGIT/ PESHAWAR:

Responding to the call for protests made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan over the killing of party leader Zahra Shahid Hussain in Karachi, PTI workers peacefully demonstrated outside the Peshawar Press Club.

Hundreds of protesters led by PTI’s MPA-elect Yaseen Khalil poured onto Sher Suri Road on Monday to protest against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and its chief Altaf Hussain, who Imran Khan has alleged is responsible for Zahra’s murder.

Protesters were holding placards against the MQM and requested the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take notice of the incident. The road was blocked and traffic was disrupted as protesters headed towards the press club. Commuters faced additional problems as alternative routes had heavy traffic jams.

“We will never sit in peace until we are given justice,” Khalil addressed the crowd. “MQM is directly responsible for Zahra’s murder as MQM Chief Altaf Hussain had openly threatened PTI workers,” Khalil alleged. Karachi is being controlled by a single party and no one dares to bring them to justice for their atrocities, Khalil added.



PTI’s MNA-elect Hamidul Haq said the party secured majority of the votes at the 43 polling stations where re-polling was conducted for NA-250. “It was the MQM who rigged the elections and prevented the PTI tsunami,” he accused. Haq claimed the PTI will free Karachi from MQM’s vandalism and bring the “architect of violence” to justice.

The protesters also requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct a transparent inquiry into allegations of poll rigging across the country.

Meanwhile, MQM’s Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) chapter held a protest rally against Imran Khan, condemning his statement against Altaf Hussain.

The rally was addressed by local leaders, asking Imran not to issue baseless statements against a leader who is adored by thousands across the world. “Such statements hurt the followers,” said one demonstrator, asking Imran to put his own house in order first.

Zahra, who was PTI’s vice-president in Sindh, was gunned down on Saturday night by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle outside her house in Defence Housing Authority, Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2013.