Pakistan

Imran calls truce with MQM, says PTI does not want any confrontation

Says only purpose of his visit to Karachi is to end the sense of fear among Karachiites

Web Desk April 08, 2015

Imran Khan along with party leaders addresses a press conference in Karachi on Wednesday, April 8, 2015. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SAQIB/EXPRESS

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday welcomed Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief’s statement, assuring support for the cricketer-turned-politician to address his supporters in Karachi.

While addressing a press conference in Karachi on Wednesday night, Imran said the PTI was a peaceful party and that it did not want any form of confrontation with anyone.

“I want the [by]-election to be peaceful,” he said. “I will go to offer my prayers for MQM martyrs at Jinnah Ground.”

Imran said the only purpose of his visit to Karachi was to end a "sense of fear" among Karachiites.

Read: NA-246 by-election: Altaf says MQM will emerge as victor

“We are contesting such that the sense fear could end, from the place where it all began,” he said.

The PTI chairman said he would visit the NA-246 constituency along with his candidate, Imran Ismail, on Thursday.

“This is the time for change for the people of Karachi,” said Imran.

NA-246 should be handed over to army until April 23: PTI

When questioned whether the PTI would make an alliance with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) for the forthcoming by-polls, Imran said, “Our candidate is Imran Ismail. We will having a meeting with JI, and try to convince them to back our candidate.”

Earlier, a ruckus erupted in the press conference after several journalists were allegedly manhandled by party workers.

The NA-246 seat fell vacant after Nabil Gabol, who was elected on MQM ticket in the 2013 general elections, resigned from his seat after developing differences with the party. As a result, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced to hold by-polls on April 23.

COMMENTS (24)

Ebaad | 9 years ago | Reply @True Karachiite: PTI lost Punjab, where they had biggest of the jalsas PTI received 5 million votes from Punjab, that's twice the number of votes your party could gather from all over the country.

True Karachiite | 9 years ago | Reply @Ebaad: PTI's issue is they and their supporters are extremely judgemental and full of hate and arrogance. PTI lost Punjab, where they had biggest of the jalsas. So you keep dreaming that all silent voters go for PTI. You are clearly not a silent voter :-)

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Temur | 9 years ago | Reply @Napier Mole: The PTI will not turn young Karachi kids into target killers, extort money from business, and bring the whole city to a standstill through random firing in the city. It will be a good start, don't your think so?

Napier Mole | 9 years ago | Reply @ Aysha M Precisely! Let's suppose PTI fulfils umpire's desire to put mqm in place. What happens next. What has PTI to offer for Karachi and urban Sindh. Nothing. Zilch. They might have had some grounds if they had come up with a tangible agenda but they are only driven by a zero sum game; to defame or eliminate mqm at any cost - assisted by the non native rangers and police. No wonder PTI has failed to get any resonance in the city except among those who may vote for PTI more in 'bughaz e Muawiya' than in 'Hubb e Ali', overwhelmingly the non native elements of Karachi's population. And let's not miss the larger picture either. Cracking at mqm earns PTI and it's leader votes in Punjab and NWFP. Here he is now in competition with NS who has cemented his position by starting the latest operation in Karachi. What NS, IK and the establishment always learn to their rue is that Karachi's population is much more politically sharp and have seen through all these machinations of the last thirty years designed to divide Karachi's vote bank.

Ebaad | 9 years ago | Reply @True Karachiite: PTI would get votes from non-urdu speaking people in NA-246 You are living in fool's paradise then. You have no idea whats happening on the ground level. I live near UBL sports complex, the PTI voter in this area is silent supporter same as it was before the general elections, and this is an urdu speaker dominated area for sure. You are in for a big surprise. Your username is True Karachiite, your comment contradicts it.

Aysha M | 9 years ago | Reply @Napier Mole: The beef, the real issues not a matter of concern for Imran Khan or PTI, never heard them say a word about local governance local policing. They would never campaign for Karachi to be run like other metropolitan /mega cities in the world, undera powerful, independent mayor, with policing,transport and utilities under him/her. Also, their collaboration with JI has already made them lose whatever ground they stood on. Karachi and Karachiites are liberal, progressive, secular and would not be attracted by quaint certre right mindset.

True Karachiite | 9 years ago | Reply PTI talks about freeing Karachi from fear. And IK and his workers have at multiple occasions gotten into physical abuses. They couldn't even handle this press conference and manhandled the journalists. Imran Khan is all hot air and media sponsored. His days are counted. PTI stands no chance in Karachi. Its MQM or JI here. PTI would get votes from non-urdu speaking people in NA-246.

Mirza | 9 years ago | Reply Saudi royals and Sheikhs wanted full and unanimous support from Pakistan in their aggression against a sovereign brotherly country. With the money talking loud and clear all parties came to the parliament but thanks to some independent minded members of Senate there has not been any unanimity as yet. All these changing attitudes and joining the same "fake, corrupt and unjust" assemblies is not without sound reason. IK now has a soft corner for the same people he was calling terrorists, traitors, criminals and Mafia. Yet PTI/IK's trolls call him a visionary leader.

Truth_Prevails | 9 years ago | Reply @a resident of NA246: MQM has to understand that PTI is a symbol of freedom...freedom from tyranny that has ruled Karachi for decades. It's a beginning of the end of a regime that nurtured on ransom & robbed money that survived by murders & executions. It's a new dawn that will see Karachi regain it's lost glory.

sunny | 9 years ago | Reply We karachi people want to see pti wIn. Pti imran khan will win NA 246 election. We will vote for pti.

Raja Porus | 9 years ago | Reply He has obviously changed his stance / words since he fears for the lives of his party workers who are going to be left at the mercy of the largest organized crime party of Sindh.

Tamaaz Khan | 9 years ago | Reply How about a trip to Lyari then?

Napier Mole | 9 years ago | Reply Every cry of PTI starts with nothing but mqm and ends at nothing but mqm. Where is the beef, Mr Khan.

a resident of NA246 | 9 years ago | Reply What happened to his tone ? Mr.Niazi seems to have understood that this is MQMs strongest hold and without the truce he cannot face the public here . Anyways good gesture . BTW he had been calling MQM a terrorist party and yet going to offer fateha to the Yadgare Shuhada of those who he called terrorist. And also thanks for reminding us you are a half Muhajir . Hope you are not on anyone's agenda this time .( read ;establishment )

Hasan Askari | 9 years ago | Reply Lot of journalists in media must not be happy at reading this. However I caution all the Urdu speakers and Mohajirs of Karachi and all supporters of MQM and all supporters of moderate, anti Taliban, anti extremist, anti extremist mindset belonging to Sindh, Punjab etc that beware of this person. His words are not to be taken seriously. He must not be happy at positive attitude shown by MQM. Inside he wants fights, he wants to kill few of his workers to get sympathy votes. So don't be surprised if you hear some small time PTI leader killed in Karachi He, his backers i.e. rangers and establishment can do anything. Mission is to win Karachi. We will not let this tribal change our civilized society.

Blithe | 9 years ago | Reply Born With a foot in the mouth

Atiq | 9 years ago | Reply @Sarfaraz: 100% agree. PTI is being used to prop up MQM and for resurgence of the Muhajir people for Muhajir province. you watch !

kammiqazi | 9 years ago | Reply @Ahmed His lawyers are only good for winning the lowest alimony for Rita White's girl.

saeed | 9 years ago | Reply It could be a good begining for PTI if they had choosen a middle class commoner to contest this election but alas, only big shots can get tickets from PTI. Unlike MQM.

AA | 9 years ago | Reply @Hasan: Altaf Husain is a real issue. If you have not noticed what he did to the most talented [people of Pakistan by destroying their generations. Karachi would have become entrepreneurial mecca instead it became terror bastion. MQM did received support from educated people but in favor of giving the reigns into the hands of Hooligan. If you live in Karachi, you can never deny that the sector in charges are illiterate street hoodlums who squeeze money out of every honest business man by threats if they ignore they get robbed by people from other areas and then sector in charge show up to assure that they affiliate themselves with the party. My friend was shot because he refused to close down shutters while customers were inside when MQM was declaring strike. My brother in law was robbed in day light by those who he knew by face but never file a report against them, my sister was robbed of her jewelry near her own house. This is the story of every one in Karachi. Are you kidding me ???

Ahmed | 9 years ago | Reply don,t twist IK Words by your headline ET because IK welcomed statement of altaf who said to his workers to remain peaceful. where is truce with MQM in that? he also clearly mentioned that if anything happens to his workers then his lawyers in london are ready to register case against Altaf

Hasan | 9 years ago | Reply Sensible Decision. Altaf Hussain had long called for an end of politics of confrontation. Hopefully PTI will focus on real issues of Karachi which it has long dodged, and attacked Altaf Hussain & MQM.

Sarfaraz | 9 years ago | Reply Something smells very fishy... MQM is being disgraced throughout media, yet their support in urban Sindh seems to be increasing by the day. I am also noticing a return to the pro-Mahajir sloganeering by MQM. I hope this will not turn into a prelude for Mahajir nationalism, which can lead to separation.

Layman | 9 years ago | Reply Imran khan you are misfit in politics of Pakistan here only those people can survive who are corrupt financially and morally, the status co which has roots in all walks of life and international and national establishment will never allow a person like you to run this country, they want puppet and that is what they are going to safeguard..

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