PTI supporters are baton-charged by the police. PHOTO: AYESHA MIR/EXPRESS TRIBUNE/FILE
Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have sought the intervention of the Supreme Court to help remove the barricades around Bilawal House.
The party leaders on Monday demanded a suo motu notice by the apex court of the security wall and the barricades around Bilawal House. They also called for action against 'goons' in police uniforms who used baton charge on the protesters during Sunday's demonstration.
Flashing his bandaged fingers at a press conference on Monday, PS-112 MPA Khurram Sher Zaman said that they had no issue with the Bilawal House or with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders. "They can build a 10-foot wall around the house, we don't care. All we want is for the road to be open for the public."
Addressing the press at the party's media cell in the Defence Housing Authority, he said that they were attacked by criminals dressed in police uniforms. "We were addressing a press conference two kilometres away from the Bilawal House when 25 to 30 criminals along with the police arrived and started hitting us with sticks. They did not even spare our women and children."
He said that the PPP was falsely accusing them of wanting to go inside Bilawal House and for creating chaos. "The pressure from our party has led the government to open one side of the road but the other side is yet to be cleared," he said, adding that the residents have been complaining of having to commute via longer routes and encountering traffic jams. The businesses around the area have suffered and the value of the properties has gone down too, he claimed. The PTI leader said that he was beaten up along with MNA Arif Alvi after they gave a week-long deadline to open the road and clear the blockades. "We will go to the court against it. We will do whatever it takes."
Refuting the charges by PPP's Shazia Marri that the demonstration was the PTI's reaction towards Bilawal Bhutto's speech, Zaman said that they had planned the protest days in advance. He informed that they had discussed the issue with the Karachi commissioner 12 days ago.
"This is not a political stunt. Our presence and strength will come to the fore when the results of the local bodies' elections are announced."
PTI's parliamentarian Samar Ali Khan said that protest was peaceful as they had carried no weapons or sticks. "This is a public issue. We want it to be solved for the good of the citizens."
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2013.
COMMENTS (17)
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@Justice Miscarried: You are absolutely right in what you have stated. Important point is that we are sixth largest nation of the world with over 180 million people. We have a beautiful land with ample resources. We have hard working, decent, and honest people. We can build a nation where our people can live in peace and harmony. To do that the public needs to be educated in issues you have mentioned in your comment, they need to treat each other with respect and agree to disagree with tolerance and understanding. We need to choose better leaders and then hold them accountable to their promises and performance. Having traveled the world extensively, and having had the advantage of comparing things first hand, I know we can do it.
@Arzoo To add to your analysis, please also note that it was the "badmashi" of the PPP when ZAB referring to the National Assembly session called in March 1971 for formation of new government said "anyone who attends would have his legs broken." He was against transfer of power to the Awami League that had won a majority in most fair elections held in 1970 under the LFO 1970 to which the PPP had agreed but violated by not cooperating for transferring power to the majority party, which was likely to end the power of the feudals. He encourage, rather, he and his party, played a crucial role in the break-up of Pakistan as symbolized also by the slogan, "yahan hum, wahan tum." Regards.
@ahmer: PTI is working to get polio campaign restarted. It cannot turn around a sagging economy inherited from the last government overnight but it is trying sincerely. It is for tackling the terrorists but first wants dialogue the failure of which could justify a swift military action. There is no justification to ban this up and coming political party. Try to be fair.
@ahmer: You are out of your mind when you say: "This party needs to be banned." PTI has done nothing illegal to deserve this. (Not a PTI supporter or of any party but I believe in equality and true democracy.)
PTI is blocking roads in NWFP itself. So hypocritical of them.
@SHB: PPP is not becoming a party of 'badmash,' it always was. Please google J A Rahim. He was a founding member of PPP, party's first Secretary General, and PPP's first Minister of Production. Mr. Rahim left a dinner party at midnight without waiting for Z A Bhutto to arrive, who was customarily several hours late at events. As soon as Mr. Bhutto came in 'Maulana' Kausar Niazi informed him that Rahim left without waiting for him. At 2 a.m. in the morning Bhutto's security forces went to Mr. Rahim's house, dragged him out, and gave him a beating of his lifetime, with a broken nose. Mr. Rahim was an elderly man. Here is the link quoting from Stanley Wolpert's book on Bhutto, page 240:
http://pakistanlink.org/Opinion/2005/Aug05/05/03.HTM
Pakistan did not get to the depth of the abyss by itself; it has had many helpers with well known names. But, like we say: 'Mayusi kufr hai.' You, the young of our country are our Hope.
@Express Tribune its not PTI demands actually it is Pakistan Demand
if law institutes who took this decision cannot stand on what they ordered than they should close down their offices. justice delayed is justice denied.
Once a feudal always a feudal! They will never change
@SHB: well he is mature enough to never talk about corruption eradication
@SHB: You are very right in your comment. We can not expect any maturity from a 25 yrs old kid.
Not all 25 year old are the same, Karachi has seen a 25 year old who laid the foundation of a student organization at the lawns of Karachi University which progressed into the sole representative of the middle and lower middle classes in Pakistan, so it has nothing to do with age, but everything to do with political vision, honesty, character commitment and the will to bring change, and so much more
Mr. President, Tear Down This Wall
@Thoughts: You are very right in your comment. We can not expect any maturity from a 25 yrs old kid. There is no older or experienced statesman in PPP? I hope not.
Couple of thoughts:
Bilawal could earn mega points by being courteous at this time. My removing the wall and sympathizing with Arif Alvi, Bilawal could turn this narrative (through intelligent wording) in his favor.
I don't think Bilawal has the maturity of a Statesman though, the ability to understand that he can be secure and yet win political points.
I also think that this is fair stance by PTI. The wall represents the feudal mindset, the one that Bilawal does not have the ability to think past, of our ruling class. The wall is symbolic, it's not about the "wall" which in the context of Karachi, or even NA-250 may not be that significant an issue. But in terms of challenging the status quo, demolition of the wall means so much more.
Looks like PPP is becoming party of Badmash. It is already party of corrupt people. Some of the politicians are corrupt to the last drop of their blood. Mr Bilawel should declare his assets now so we could compare five yrs from now .