Bringing the wall down: One side of the road open, one more to go

PTI, PPP workers gather near the wall built around Bilawal House, police arrive to avert clash.

KARACHI:

On the eve of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's protest to demolish the wall surrounding the Bilawal House, the Sindh government opened one side of the thoroughfare for the public, after which tension erupted between the PTI and Pakistan Peoples Party's workers.

On Friday evening, PTI's MNA Arif Alvi and MPA Khurram Sher Zaman along with party workers gathered near the wall. As news spread of their demonstration today [Sunday] to demolish the wall, one side of the thoroughfare was opened, surprising commuters who've seen it closed for the past five years. Vehicles, however, could not pass through the road, which was being cleaned by sweepers.



When workers of PPP also arrived at the site, the situation turned tense as some people pushed back Alvi and others hit Zaman's car. Before things could get out of control, the PTI leaders left the site. A large number of police officials had also turned up to avert any clash between the workers of the two political parties.

According to Alvi, who won the NA-250 constituency in the general elections, they wanted their protest to remain peaceful and wanted to avoid any confrontation, which is why they left the site. "We are glad that one side of the road has opened but we want the entire road to be available to the commuters, as directed by the Sindh High Court on September 4. As an MNA of the area, I want to go on the road and inspect which walls should be demolished but they are stopping me," he said while talking to The Express Tribune. According to him, new containers had been erected near Boat Basin to create an environment of confrontation. "This is not a political stunt. I have no issue with tight security for the former president, but we won't let roads be closed and walls be built at the cost of civilians' rights. Even embassies in the city are not protected like this fortress."



Speaking about the demonstration today at Bilawal Chowrangi, Alvi said that the protest is not only for one day but will  continue till the walls are brought down and the road leading to Bilawal House is opened for commuters.

Workers of the PPP, however, consider opening the roads as a threat to the safety of their leaders. Carrying party flags and chanting 'Naray Naray Bhutto, Jiyay Jiyay Bhutto', they said that by asking to reopen the roads, PTI was paving way for the Taliban to attack Bilawal House. "PTI is employing political tactics in our area. We came to show support with our leaders," said Najmi Alam of the PPP. "They were thinking that our workers won't be here to stand up to them but they were wrong."

According to DC South Mustafa Jamal Qazi, they had asked for a month's time to open one side of the road because they wanted to put up new cameras and lights. He assured that the other side would be opened soon as well.

PTI has asked supporters of the movement to gather at the Bilawal Chowrangi at 1pm to demolish the wall. Party leaders are also expected to address a press conference in the afternoon.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2013.