PTI supporters are baton-charged by the police. PHOTO: AYESHA MIR/EXPRESS TRIBUNE
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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End of live updates
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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.
Shocked to c PTI's peaceful protest in Khi, against the nonimplementation of a court order 4 removal of illegal Bilawal House wall, attacked
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 29, 2013
Shameful how the feudal mindset of dynastic-controlled political parties allows their ldrs 2 usurp public property for its personal needs.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 29, 2013
When PTI peacefully protests 2 challenge illegal behaviour & noncompliance of Court orders, it is physically attacked.Is this democracy?
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 29, 2013
Hope all our brave protestors including our senior leaders like Dr Alvi & are women are safe. Praying those injured recover fast.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 29, 2013
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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.
#PTI leadership should not have allowed workers to bring weapons. @BBhuttoZardari #PPP
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) December 29, 2013
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
I repeat. Dehshatgardo k Jo yaar hain, Ghaddar hain, Ghaddar hain! #TTPTI
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) December 29, 2013
Kiya hua, Tsunami bhaag gaiee ;) #BilawalHouseWall
— Syed Ali Raza Abidi (@abidifactor) December 29, 2013
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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.
PPP Govt Sindh must not become party by allowing police to support their workers to beat workers of PTI
— Wajih Sani (@wajih_sani) December 29, 2013
Militant wings of #PPP & #PTI try their muscles at Park Tower #Karachi #Pakistan
— Century Maker (@CenturyMaker) December 29, 2013
https://twitter.com/FarhanJanjua/status/417225528039337984
TTP Youth*** wing brought sticks and weapons to attack PPP workers. PPP workers women and children have been attacked. 1/2
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) December 29, 2013
PPP Jyalas faced TTP,ran 2wrds bomb blast to save smbb & r not scared of miniTaliban in jeans.PTI wants wall down so TTP can kill me. 2/2
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) December 29, 2013
I can see PTI flags, beards and bricks. #MiniTalibaninjeans always using violence. truck drivers, women @ jalsas &now jiyalas. #BilawalHouse
— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) December 29, 2013
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.
Civil Society and PTI protesters please congregate at boat basin as Bilawal chowrangi has been blocked
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) December 29, 2013
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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[poll id="1280"]
COMMENTS (94)
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@bilal: I was your neighbour in DHA karachi.
@Aysha M: Karachi is always shattered by the incompetent political parties MQM and PPP who are the major stakeholders in Sindh. they have done nothing other than legalizing corruption, bhata system, killing innocents, street crimes. they are responsible for transforming city of lights into city of blood
Firstly, correct your heading. It is not about the wall. We are not concerned with how tall the wall is. We are concerned with the roads that is blocked.
@Khurram Awan: Yes a multi million dollar home whose walls and boundaries encompass the area of that property and nowhere else. If you havnt figured out the point you never will.
@salman: @Zif: @raees: @a&a: @Uzair: shame on all of you. we are suffering from past five to six years. these walls have ruined our businesses, parking and everything but who should be blamed for all the losses. I wish you all go through the same than you will realize the problems of a common man
@bilal: Whoever people choose, not for any one of us to decide.
strong textPlease send me your regular e-news paoer. Thanks.
People like Dr Alvi and his family must be locked up in some safe custody cell, they are inciting the mobs to do what clearly is not their job and must be done by the authrities. It's in these Alvis interest to have trouble and clashes in the streets of Karachi between the immature and ignorant PTI kids and other political entities like PPP, they expect to attain some relevance again if some serious clashes take place and a few people get seriously injured or even killed in some non-issues here. This is irresponsible political maneuvering by non-political wana-bes and should not be allowed at any cost.
Even though i am not a big fan of PTI BUT whats right is right. Wall is illegal encroachment of public property and needs to be removed. Who cares about Bilawal house, baap ki jaidad hai kia?
Imran follows appeasement policy towards TTP, the most powerful entity ( terrorist) of Pakistan. All this z because he z afraid of them.So a Coward (lmran khan)may not b a leader.
PPP committed state terrorism...only solution for lawlessness in sindh is ....governor rule
Zardari and family has stashed millions of ill gotten money in foreign countries, use that money on your security instead of public money and buiding walls to safe gaurd your palace. Public roads and streets are public and not to be used for private purposes. I recall when Nawaz Sharif has built a wall around his palace in Lahore and when deposed, the wall was demolished. These kind of walls and blocking public roads should not be constructed in the first place and the local government should not allow this kind of traversty. Tear down the wall.
BBhuttoZardari's statement about PTI dharna "The acts of #PTI shows that they are now the B Team of #TTP "
PTI supporters as seen in the photograph with their flags... PPP supporters can be seen wearing police uniforms and carrying batons!
This is a fight Bilawal House will loose. But when will Pakistan's people win, whose lands and assets have been usurped by the robber barons ruling Pakistan????
@Aysha M: what do think who should be in power to command Karachi?
Thank god PTI workers are just injured otherwise they may gun shot could have been much worse. Get well soon, you have given us such pleasure over the years in Pakistani PTI folk we hope in u only, we are all rooting for you people!
Mr Dr Arif Alvi, push down wall hard. Show other Pakistani 'leaders' that you won't stand for these obscenities. Unlike soft touch of Punjab about Sharif family Model town road blocked, Karachist won't let this go unanswered. clap to those involved.
Very noble effort by PTI to protest on the alleged violation of Karachites right in the name of security. PPP using notorious tactics to inflame their brain washed die hard workers by spreading words like BB home is being attacks etc. Media should educate people that High court has order to open the road being illegally blocked in the name of security. Police who seems to be rent a police playing shameful role as usual as they seems to be a not Sindh police but a PPP police. instead of unnecessarily criticizing PTI one should support every initiative which in favor or people rights and law.
@asim, A nonsense comment. Nobody has the right to demolish legal constructions and even if those houses are demolished, what would you get from debris?
Now if the Americans caused a drone to demolish the wall ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ what would IK 's response be?
Ah! same old story of feudal lord showing heir muscle and getting away with it - time for revolution nears....
@Father of My Kids: Please don't support. You may find something from PPPP or Noon league
Are the PPP above the law? Why hasn`t the court order been enforced?
It looks like the feudals own a lot of people on this forum(the PPP supporters). These serfs don't realise that they don't own us and we are free both physically and mentally. The serfs will serve the corrupt Bhuttos/Zardaris but we serve Pakistan.
Slaves come to love their Chains and... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PPP supporters their Wall.
You people of pakistan deserve the leaders you have... It's not the leaders who have ruined the country it's the stupid awaam who's to blame...
@a&a: Kpk is the only province that has actually surpassed its gdp growth target :) you will be pleased to know.
I witness today's protest right from the beginning to the end, it was PPP Jiyale who start beating PTI workers from behind and the Police charging from front against PTI shows how crook the system is...
Time---yes, Mr.Bilawal, *time is never the same for any one*. How your goons attacked a peaceful rally today will not be forgotten. There will come a time when Pakistan will be rid off its jagirdaari-wadera-industrialist-bureaucratic nexus for good and in that sacred moment of time, we will return, not only to pull down the wall surrounding your palatial palace which goes by the name of Bilawal House but every symbol of high-handedness, elitism, exceptionalism and feudalism that has ruled the roost in this country till now. Time was never loyal to the Shah of Iran or to Muatassim Al-Billah or to Saddam. Hussein or to Mubarak or to Musharraf. It is, in the final run, the best judge of all that we do, accomplish or aspire to achieve.
@karachiite: terrible ET giving fake recommendations, 405 , pathetic ET now all those who love karachi and are true blood karachiites must join hands across etnicity and party affiliations and start a movement for a city government , under a directly elected mayor , like london like newyork , like paris ,and rest of the world , this is the way to administer , mega cities with , police education health , transport , local taxation all uder the directly elected mayor .
Failed Baldiyati election stunt by PTI goons , you wont get any votes this time from karachi you have disapointed Pakistanis by making fake promises ... go sort out illegal encroachments and remove illegal aliens and foreign terrorists from KPK first
what is the difference between protestors of Lal Masjid and that of PTI. All danda bardar ghunday. Dahsht gardon ka jo yar hay wo ghadar hay . The day Imran Khan sell his 530 Kanal 15 Marla agriculture land in Kanewal at Rs. 50000 to me. I will support his party’s campaign against Bilawal House wall.
Has Buzdil Khan ever condemned TTP for killing innocent children, and polio workers administering vaccination to them? Has he asked his government to arrest and prosecute their killers? Why did his government free hardened criminals in the fake jailbreak?
Buzdil Khan first make,construct, improve the own home(KPK), Is KPK's governor house changed in library??? no one is jobless in KPK????& ETC......... bUZDIL KHAN is foriegn agent.
@asim: And who will demolish the Multi Billion Mansion of Imran Khan in Bani Gala?? It is alright if Imran Khan lives in Multi Billion residence but Bilawal and Nawaz Sharif have no right??
PTI is leading us to anarchy and chaos. After cyber world, it brings its Lutth bardaars to the real world. The thought of what Pakistan will be like after 5 years is shivering.
Wonder why PTI dharnas are always outside Punjab. Even after elections the dharnas in Lahore were a casual roadside affairs whereas in Karachi they blocked the main thoroughfares distrupting public life. The rally in Lahore was kept within permissable areas where as NATO containers were blocked by workers in gross violation of law!
Karachites should ask themselves just one question: despite their huge support for PTI how many times has Imran Khan visited Karachi since elections?
PTI workers ,go and do something about the polio workers who are being killed left,right and centre in your K-P. Go and protest against them. DO something useful for once. Don't emulate JI in their politics of protests and dharnas which paved the way for 1971 coup. Are you looking for that???
Mummy Daddy kind of people can't be dangers to anyone.
Illegal road blocks on roads made by public money are a constant insult to the commoners of the country
Both parties are not willing to pay attention to the issues faced by common.
It is not about supporting one party or the other but look not a single institution of the state can demolish this wall. It shows how much struggle is needed to free this nation from the hands of feudal and elite class.
@asim: I agree with you
Party workers on road...... And leaders on Twitter...........
Zardari has lived in Dubai ++++++++++++++++++++++ Try building a wall on a public road there and......> Why the double standard for Pakisatni road?
Shameful how the feudal mindset of dynastic-controlled political parties allows their leaders to usurp public property for its personal needs.... very well said indeed. ps: I am not a PTI worker or voter.
PTI please make your home (KPK) straight, before poking your nose into others affairs.......
Bilawal Bhutto defender of Pakistan against Terrorists from behind the 10 layers of security starting with miles & miles of wall. Bigger tragedy is some clowns believe that !!!
well done PTI, corrupt leaders, corrupt party PPP
@asim:
Well said.
Dr.Alvi's clinic is illegally situated in residential area.
mqm's ali raza abidi who is tweeting "tsunami bhag gaie kia?" should better call london and south africa n ask the same,, coz bhagoray saray waheen jatay hainPPP's leadership cannot control public places,once the verdict came wall should have been demolished. If law does not work then MOB works effectivley, and Pakistan is an example where always law fails and people take it in their hands.I am not blaming PTI.Its our reflection of political cultures andbeauty of Pakistan:)
It's awkward that people are opposing the protest against feudal palaces. PTI workers, as long as restraining themselves to the legal bounds, and functioning legally. Protests and their responses from the government signifies an active society, not a violent one. Protests and rallies are common in countries such as France, Germany, Britain. No one should oppose it as long as its not violent. Secondly, that wall has been declared illegal. PTI is doing the job of police and government, which is a point of shame for both these institutions. Thirdly, the ones pointing out Imran Khan's house have no idea about it. It has no real security. Just hate charades against IK by people, fueled by misinformation and false sense of loyalties to their respective parties.
Bilawal House, Raiwind House are bunkers to protect political corrupt leaders from their own people.These corrupt leaders, their sons and other relatives are parasites who live off the poor of Pakistan. These citadels of corruption and their illegally occupied area of cordon are , illegal and immoral. If Bilawal is so afraid of his own people then he should go to Dubai. The legal fraternity should take notice of this abuse of power.
The day Imran Khan sell his 530 Kanal 15 Marla agriculture land in Kanewal at Rs. 50000 to me. I will support his party's campaign against Bilawal House wall.
what is the difference between protestors of Lal Masjid and that of PTI. All danda bardar ghunday. Dahsht gardon ka jo yar hay wo ghadar hay ghadar hay.
@syed: so you think PPP has done a right job by placing illegal encroachments? ask the people who are suffering from past five years or more.
nawaz sharif is Best
@Aysha M All public property and land only for Bilawal to protect his house. Can't any one care for people of Karachi. Shame on You for your statement
@Aysha M: PTI stance has always supported local govt elections. Thats one of their main agendas ,
@Uzair: So, you mean MQM does not present any physical threat ?
PTI leaders need to grow up! I have been supporting PTI but their dharnas are not productive. If you want your voices to be heard do something good for the country!
@asim ... We also need to add 300 kanal of Imran khan house to the list...
Pull down this "Berlin wall".This is the wall of rich,that has been erected to show power,might and defiance..Bring it down.......
@asim:
Also Bani-Gala Palace and Chs-Dera
Its comical how the supporters of every crooked and failed political party has come out to level out accusations against IK and PTI. I am a very non political individual who has no interest in any party whatsoever. This gives me an advantage of thinking logically, and hence I always like the stand PTI takes against these so called landlords of this country. The parties that these guys support are famous for bhatta, feudalism but that’s acceptable for them. But they will scream drivel at PTI for doing a dharna, that doesn’t harm anyone, yet they would defend their loyalities when other party observes a yaum e siyah kind of a day that kills may be a dozen of people only. They would complain how PTI has been raising voice against a completely illegal occupation of public property by their party, even their leaders are so shameless to officialy tweet and defend on how their act is justified as otherwise TTP will kill him. Excuse me Baby Bhutto how much time do you actually spend in the country that you claim to love, may be a few weeks in the whole year?? Yet the awam and the business keeps suffering for those few week security of yours throughout the year. You lot are Hopeless!…
Why ET is quoting 5 tweets of PTI opponents (PPP-MQM) & only one tweet of PTI (Dr. Arif Alvi) ?
@bilal: I am sorry that you and your neighbours have to suffer because of those structures, but pls understand that Karachi needs to be governed by her true representatives, so far Karachi is considered too serious a matter to be left to Karachites. We all need to work towards making Karachi a city-state, led by a powerful mayor, all else will follow a sane course. Again sorry about the difficulties in commuting, but this will not help
@xnain: That's hard earned money and KHAN IS ANYTHING BUT CORRUPT!! This is quite obvious considering how he's respected world over!
Bilawal is not at all afraid of Taliban. They are afraid of public outrage against their corrupt governance. That's the reason behind construction of that Bilawal Castle
Bilawal Bhutto has rightly said if Imran khan speaks up against terrorists, he himself will demolish the wall. why not utter some words... instead of risking lives of youth of PTI and PPP workers, who may confront and situation get ugly.
@Raza Minhas: Then get ready for the time when you will not have a real job and will struggle to pay bills...This is the struggle to ensure your(and our) next generations would get better real jobs, living standards and quality of life..... Think about the time when hundreds of thousands were out on the streets of Europe against Wars. It was not directly impacting their living but they stood up for whatever they beleive.... Unfortunately this thinking of Karachites underpins several issues. People are more focussed on avoiding problems rather than standing up and striving for resolutions.. As Qateel Shifaai said....Qateel main ne us sa munaafiq nahi dekha, Jo zulm to sehta hai baghawat nahi karta...
@asim: what about the estate of bani gala.....
@ May the bigger idiot win. This is no more than battle of idiocy and political immaturity. If they had the interest of Karachi at heart they would work towards making Karachi a city-state. Karachi is a city of 20 million which is poorly governed hence the illegal structures all over. If anybody is truly and genuinely interested in putting things right in Karachi they should support a local government with political, administrative and financial independence.
About six public roads and some streets have been closed for security reasons by constructing walls and barricades for the protection of,'Bilawal House'.It is causing great inconvenience to the general public.PTI will do a great service to the people of Karachi if it is able to get these roads open.Thank you for making efforts.
@asim:
Please add the 90 and mansion in London to the list too.
@Aysha M:
Even if PTI had came out for SLGA, immature like you will be saying why didnt PTI come out against Bilawal house wall.
@Aysha M: you have no idea how we suffered living in the same vicinity. our neighbors were forced to leave their house because ppp wanted them. the Encroachments were placed to secure one house. shame on you for supporting them
"Roads leading to and from Bilawal House in Karachi were blocked with containers" Hardly a month ago, the transporters strike ended when their demands were met by the government and one of their demands was that their containers will not be confiscated by the police for road blockage. No less than the Finance Minister Mr Ishaq Dar had given assurances to the transporters. Who cares about the convenience (or inconvenience) of general public? Who cares about the taxpayers money? Who cares about the loss to transporters? Who ensures that commitments with the transporters are met all the time? Who ensures implementation of court orders? Since the provincial government has failed to remove the containers and the encroachments ignoring the High Court Order, it is time for the Federal Government to intervene and ensure implementation of Court Order and ensure that transportation containers are not unnecessarily abused by the Police.
Great work ET. I like the question to your poll. Do you agree or disagree....? And then the choices are Yes or No!! Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Is this what NYT has taught you or it is your own creative thinking?
The country may burn but these flag bearers of democracy must stay safe in their forts. Monument to hypocrisy, must be brought down especially after the SHC order.
Family politics is destroying Pakistan....all the blocked roads should be fully operational....Pakistan is for public not for these looters....i hope this nation will wake up some day before its too late
"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."
Get real. Some of us actually have a real job that we pays our bills and puts food on the table for our families. Please forgive us for not protesting with you for bringing down walls outside Bilawal House as we try to earn our livelihood and survive.
--A common, non political Karachitte
The wall is a sign of feudalism. They have occupied two three lane roads plus a service lane. What kind of security is this ? The walls and road blockade are a nuisance to the area residents and also to thousands of people who frequent the area every day. Many businesses have shut down and the others are suffering badly. On top of that Zardari has built three 12 feet walls on the roads with public money. What are they afraid of ?
A police mobile with service lane occupied would have been enough. If they are so afraid of people who vote to them to power they shoudl leave Pakistan and live somewhere else where they cant even occupy 1 cm of area. There are no rules in this country and the leaders abuse their power so openly and shamelessly.
To save the country Bilawal house and House of Rai-wind needs to be demolished and their assets be distributed among poor people
The PTI cowards find it easy to target those who don't present a physical threat to them. Immy and his gang never speak out against the TTP, who just yesterday murdered the anti-polio drive chief in the PTI governed province' capital. What now Imran after your claims that you will fight polio? Will you appease the murderers even more? Or will you finally grow a spine and call a spade a spade and go after these murderers?
Immature leader, immature provincial leadership, why didnt PTI come out against SLGA, the real threat faced by Karachites, a powerful mayor can deal with all the trivial, such as bringing a wall down.
All PTI has done, is trained the nation, to go the Dharna way, no matter what the issue is, its time that there is some legislation done against these DHARNA SCHOOL OF THOUGHT