Show of anger: PTI office attacked by political workers in Hyderabad

Enraged over 'disrespect' towards PPP chairperson in London, workers also injured a PTI activist.

HYDERABAD:

Dozens of alleged Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) supporters attacked a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) office late on Sunday night after PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was heckled during his speech in a 'Kashmir Million March' held in London earlier in the day.

The suspects beat up some office workers, leaving one injured, and took away their motorcycles, according to PTI's Hyderabad leader Dr Mustansir Billah. "They fired aerial shots, hurled abuses and beat our supporters, frightening the area's residents," he claimed.



The injured PTI worker, Tariq Mehmood, sustained a wound on his head. However, his condition was stable and he was discharged from the hospital after receiving first aid.

The incident happened in the government flats in GOR Colony, where a worker, Umair Shaikh, was running a party office in his apartment. He told the media that armed men ransacked his apartment.

"They were furious and shouted slogans and abuse against [PTI chief] Imran Khan," said Dr Billah. He added that the attackers stole four motorcycles but left three of them at some distance from the office, although one was still missing.

Meanwhile, PTI workers blocked roads and burnt tyres in some areas of the city in protest against the attack. Dr Billah complained that the GOR police were refusing to register a FIR for the incident. "We will hold a protest demonstration on Tuesday to put pressure on the police," he said. "After that, we will take the matter to court."



PPP workers also held a protest outside Hyderabad Press Club on Sunday night to condemn what they perceived as a deliberate attempt to show disrespect towards Bilawal in London.

Earlier, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was forced to cut short his speech at the 'Million March' in London on Sunday when rowdy protesters reportedly started throwing water bottles at him. The 'Million March' was held to demand a just and peaceful resolution of longstanding Kashmir issue and saw thousands of people rally through central London in protest against India's human rights violations in Kashmir.

However, it seems politicking was not welcome at the rally as some participants objected to Bilawal's presence at the stage.

PTI chief Imran Khan's nephew, Hassan Niazi, also seemed to be involved in the controversy. Niazi was briefly detained by the UK police after the incident, according to a tweet from his official account.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2014.