Altaf Hussain invites PTI to hold rally in Azizabad
Says PTI must respect martyr monument; condemns Tuesday's clash between PTI, MQM activists
The fight for the constituency heated up on Tuesday when workers from both PTI and MQM came face to face in Azizabad. PHOTO: APP
LONDON:
After the face-off between Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for Karachi's NA-246 constituency, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain invited PTI to hold rally in Jinnah Ground, Azizabad.
However, the MQM supremo put one condition -- the martyr monument must be respected, Altaf said.
The fight for the constituency heated up on Tuesday when workers from both PTI and MQM came face to face in Azizabad and PTI Chief Imran Khan registered a case against unknown MQM workers for the resulting face-off.
PTI’s candidate Imran Ismail and other leaders were visiting the Jinnah Ground to chalk out a plan for the party’s upcoming political gathering on April 19 when scores of MQM supporters also arrived at the spot.
Read: NA-246 by-polls: Independent candidates insist upon code of conduct
Pro-party slogans were being shouted by rival workers but this soon turned violent when Ismail's caravan was attacked.
Television footage showed men smashing the windows of a white Toyota Land Cruiser with cricket bats as it drove off. The windows of another car were also smashed with bricks and stones.
Read: NA-246 by-election: MQM-PTI faceoff heats up poll battle in Karachi
Conveying the message from his residence in London, Altaf Hussain condemned the face-off and said that members of PTI disrespected the martyrs monument which is situated adjacent to Jinnah Ground.
Read: By-Polls for Karachi's NA-246 to be held on April 23
PTI workers were reportedly standing on the monument which resulted in retaliation by the locals of the area.
The MQM chief said that rallies can and should be held in Jinnah Ground, however, utmost care should be taken of the monument. He added that members of the PTI and the rest of Pakistan did not know the significance of the martyr's monument.
After the face-off between Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for Karachi's NA-246 constituency, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain invited PTI to hold rally in Jinnah Ground, Azizabad.
However, the MQM supremo put one condition -- the martyr monument must be respected, Altaf said.
The fight for the constituency heated up on Tuesday when workers from both PTI and MQM came face to face in Azizabad and PTI Chief Imran Khan registered a case against unknown MQM workers for the resulting face-off.
PTI’s candidate Imran Ismail and other leaders were visiting the Jinnah Ground to chalk out a plan for the party’s upcoming political gathering on April 19 when scores of MQM supporters also arrived at the spot.
Read: NA-246 by-polls: Independent candidates insist upon code of conduct
Pro-party slogans were being shouted by rival workers but this soon turned violent when Ismail's caravan was attacked.
Television footage showed men smashing the windows of a white Toyota Land Cruiser with cricket bats as it drove off. The windows of another car were also smashed with bricks and stones.
Read: NA-246 by-election: MQM-PTI faceoff heats up poll battle in Karachi
Conveying the message from his residence in London, Altaf Hussain condemned the face-off and said that members of PTI disrespected the martyrs monument which is situated adjacent to Jinnah Ground.
Read: By-Polls for Karachi's NA-246 to be held on April 23
PTI workers were reportedly standing on the monument which resulted in retaliation by the locals of the area.
The MQM chief said that rallies can and should be held in Jinnah Ground, however, utmost care should be taken of the monument. He added that members of the PTI and the rest of Pakistan did not know the significance of the martyr's monument.