Standoff: Supporters come face to face again

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters seemed all ready for a standoff once again on Wednesday evening.

As the PTI NA-246 candidate, Imran Ismail, flanked by Arif Alvi and Farooq Zaman, reached the Meena Bazar in Karimabad, supporters of the rival party started shouting slogans of 'Go Imran Go'. Ismail said the purpose of the visit was to woo the residents of the area as part of their election campaign. However, sensing the rising tension, he could not even get inside the main Meena Bazar. Instead, he went to the PTI's election office opposite the market. After that, a large number of MQM supporters from Usmania Hospital reached the venue and shouted slogans. According to MQM leader Qamar Mansoor, the public was highlighting its sentiments against Imran Khan and the MQM had nothing to do with the sloganeering.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2015.