PTI, PPP clash in Bilawal House wall standoff

Protesters baton-charged by police, numerous activists arrested.


Web Desk December 29, 2013
PTI supporters are baton-charged by the police. PHOTO: AYESHA MIR/EXPRESS TRIBUNE

KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) plans to hold a protest aimed at bringing down the security wall around Bilawal House ended with baton-charges, scuffles and bruises for the party on Sunday.

Police blocked all roads leading to the Bhutto residence to prevent protesters from reaching the protest site. Consequently, PTI protesters gathered near Boat Basin to carry out their protest.

Later in the day, PPP supporters came out in large numbers and a scuffle broke out between the two highly charged parties. Police officials also resorted to baton-charging the protesters to prevent them advancing on Bilawal House.

A number of political party activists from both parties were picked up during the protest.

Both PPP and PTI leaders lashed out at each other for the day's violent end.

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5:30pm

The PTI leaders and supporters arrived at the Frere police station and demanded the release of PTI protesters.

Chanting slogans against the use of force, PTI supporters said they were subjected to injustice.

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4:50pm

PTI chief Imran Khan condemned the use of violence against PTI protesters.





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3:46pm

Bilawal Bhutto in a press release said “PTI chairman Imran Khan has made a habit of distracting the country every time we are about to have a national conversation on TTP.”

“When Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a drone strike, he made it about Nato trucks. When I talked about TTP on December 27, Imran has tried to distract people again by talking about Bilawal House wall,” the press release said.

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3:27pm

Arif Alvi said PTI supporters will continue to protest until the other side of the road is reopened.

He accused police officers of attacking female protesters and said women supporters had to run away to protect themselves.

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3:24pm

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said PTI’s protest against the Bilawal House wall was unethical and will “invite” terrorism threats.

PTI MNA Arif Alvi said he changed the location of protest from Bilawal Chowrangi to Boat Basin to avoid confrontation.

He demanded an explanation from the Sindh government regarding "police attacking PTI protesters and protecting PPP workers."

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3:18pm

PPP patron in chief Bilawal Bhutto said PTI supporters should have not taken weapons to the protest.


Labelling PTI as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Dharna, PPP leader Sharmila Farooqui told media that her party doesn’t believe in politics of conflict but that the “jiyalas” know how to respond to various pressure tactics used by opponents.

“PTI supporters think they can walk into anybody’s property, damage it and then walk away,” she alleged.
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3:14pm

DC South rejected the notion that police sided with PPP supporters and said he had arrested miscreants belonging to both the parties.

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3:10pm

DC South while speaking to Express News said he asked PTI leaders to cancel the protest as the issue regarding the Bilawal House wall was almost resolved.

He said police only responded today when protesters started to throw stones and harm the cars passing by.

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3:10pm


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3:02pm

PTI MNA Arif Alvi condemned the arrest of PTI supporters and accused police of siding with "the PPP attackers."

Alvi said he had raised this issue at every forum and decided to take the streets after no action was taken to address their concerns regarding the wall.

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2:54pm

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) workers allegedly attacked Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists who were protesting at Karachi’s Boat Basin against the wall around Bilawal House.

The supporters of both parties threw stones at each other and the clash turned violent. Police baton-charged the protesters, arrested many and took them to an unknown location.

PTI supporters were protesting in the area when a large number of PPP workers arrived in the area and reportedly led the attack on protesters.



https://twitter.com/FarhanJanjua/status/417225528039337984




Roads leading to and from Bilawal House in Karachi were earlier blocked with containers for security reasons in view of the protest.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had called for a protest to demolish the wall surrounding the Bilawal House today and the supporters were due to gather at the Bilawal Chowrangi at 1pm for the demonstration.

Because of the blockade, PTI MNA Arif Alvi asked supporters to congregate at Boat Basin instead.



According to traffic police, DIG South Abdul Khaliq Sheikh ordered the blockade.

A heavy contingent of police officers was also deployed in the area, while a water cannon was put on standby.

The Sindh government had earlier opened one side of the thoroughfare for the public as news of PTI protest spread. However, today, the roads were blocked again with containers and water tankers.

On Friday evening, the situation had turned tense between the PPP and PTI as some people pushed Alvi and others hit Zaman's car, as the PTI leaders led a protest near Bilawal House.

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.

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.

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COMMENTS (94)

change | 10 years ago | Reply @bilal: well said bilal. let us all get united to eliminate the real culprits from Karachi Pakistan
Muhammad Saim | 10 years ago | Reply The Bilawal CASTLE wall irritates me and is routine inconvinience to me as I often go to that area. But the recent clash clearly tells you one thing....both PTI and PPP took law and order in thier own hands, and law enforcement agencies ofcourse as usual absent or rather taking sides. A DIG on media was sounding more like a Jiala than an employee of tax payers with a duty to maintain law and order. In any case the way PTI did it was more damaging than PPP conduct. now no hope left on running affairs as per book. It shows street power is order of the day.
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