Another brick in the wall: PTI, PPP supporters face off at Bilawal House

Clash averted but fireworks expected on Sunday when PTI intends to demolish the wall, PPP workers intend to stop them.


Web Desk/sohail Khattak December 28, 2013
Police prevented a potential clash between activists of the two parties. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS

KARACHI: Tempers flared as a potential clash between supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was averted in Karachi on Saturday evening during a protest about the security wall surrounding Bilawal House.

Protesters led by PTI MNA Dr Arif Alvi and MPA Khurram Sher Zaman gathered near Bilawal Chowrangi on Saturday evening to protest the security wall, declared illegal by the court, as part of their campaign to demolish the structure.


They were confronted by PPP supporters, determined to stop the protesters, though both groups mostly traded slogans. A small scuffle also reportedly took place between the two groups of supporters as some people tried to march on to a blocked section of the road.



As tempers rose, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari responded via his twitter account that if Imran Khan, the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Prime Minister could speak up against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, he would tear down the wall himself.



Back outside Bilawal House in Karachi, Arif Alvi told his supporters that “roads are for the public and no one can snatch people’s rights to use the roads.” Soon after, the protesters dispersed.



Shortly thereafter, people reported that containers were being placed around Bilawal House.



PTI started actively campaigning on social media on Friday, urging people to gather outside the Bilawal House to demolish a section of the wall deemed illegal by the court. The main protest is set for Sunday afternoon.

District south Traffic Police superintendent Tanveer Odho told The Express Tribune that they had on Saturday diverted traffic away from Khayaban-e-Saadi, on which Bilawal House is located, to avoid any untoward incident as a small group of protesters massed near the obstructions.

“We have not received any complaints from commuters regarding any sort problems they face due to the wall built along Bilawal House and I have no reports regarding any traffic mishap on this road,” said Odho, adding that the legal or illegal status of the road was the responsibility of the cantonment board under whose jurisdiction the stretch of road fell.

Additional Superintendent Police Clifton Abadit Nisar added that “the road was opened for traffic last night and traffic is on-going through per routine.”

The 50 feet-high wall, which stretches for 650m over both the main tracks of Khayaban-e-Saadi, has effectively reduced the capacity of the thoroughfare by 75 per cent. General traffic is forced to travel on what was previously a service lane to the six lane artery. The encroachment on the roads had actively begun after Asif Ali Zardari took oath as the President of Pakistan in September 2008.

The road leads from Bilawal Chowrangi to Sea View with a number of popular eateries and restaurants located on it. A popular art school is located just off the road as well.

The wall was declared illegal by the Sindh High Court in September, and upheld by the Supreme Court in October, terming the encroachment to be a violation of Article 9 of the Constitution.

The feud goes digital

PTI's campaign surfaced on social networking sites late on Friday evening when PTI MNA Dr Arif Alvi shared the event on his official Facebook page. Arif Alvi was elected from NA-250, and Bilawal House falls within his constituency.

Dr Alvi, along with other PTI party workers also took to Twitter to spread their message.



According to PTI MPA Khurram Sher Zaman, one side of the road blockage has allegedly opened while the other one remains closed.





Pakistan People's Party (PPP) loyalists responded to the campaign.





Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon hit back on Dr Awab Alvi’s clinic which allegedly violates building laws.



Members of other political parties including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) also responded to the campaign.

COMMENTS (37)

Saad | 10 years ago | Reply

Mr Alvi's family is building a dental clinic in a residential area without approval. He is not going to win in future, a neighbor told me.

noman1234 | 10 years ago | Reply

This was not a big issue. There was peaceful protest going on by local NA250 residents and PTI supporters. This was turned to a big Drama and blown out of proportion by dirty party called PPP. Their workers came out with guns and ammunition to intimidate the protestors and were creating disruption in the area. Police is extremely politicized and started beating the protestors who were protesting peacefully. Shame on PPP and its dirty, cheap politics.

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