PTI, PPP clash in Bilawal House wall standoff
Protesters baton-charged by police, numerous activists arrested.
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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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.
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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.
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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[poll id="1280"]
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.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
End of live updates
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4:50pm
PTI chief Imran Khan condemned the use of violence against PTI protesters.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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."
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3:14pm
DC South rejected the notion that police sided with PPP supporters and said he had arrested miscreants belonging to both the parties.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3:10pm
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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.
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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[poll id="1280"]