Karachi whistle-stop: Despite tensions, Imran enters MQM bastion

Advises Altaf Hussain to quit politics of violence

KARACHI:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan spent the better part of Thursday campaigning for Imran Ismail, the party’s candidate for the NA-246 (Karachi-VIII) election scheduled for April 23.

The PTI chief could not, however, address his supporters at the Jinnah Ground because of security concerns, as well as clashes between PTI and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activists.

The day started around noon, when Imran Khan led the huge rally of party activists and supporters from Karsaz to Hasan Square and then to Azizabad, the MQM’s bastion and main headquarters.

The route of the rally was suddenly changed during the day and Imran reached the Jinnah Ground passing Azizabad.

A route plan was provided to the media, according to which the PTI chief had to first visit the party’s election camp set up at Karimabad and then the Jinnah Ground. There was much mismanagement because of the change in the route plan. Some party leaders said the route was changed over security concerns, but even senior party leaders were unaware of the change.

Senior MQM leaders, including Farooq Sattar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Kanwar Naveed and Waseem Akhtar, stood at the gate of the Jinnah Ground to welcome Imran and his party leaders.

When the rally reached the area, slogans were raised by the activists of both the parties against their rival party’s leader, leading to a brief clash.

PTI leaders Imran Ismail, Asad Umer and Ali Zaidi entered the ground first to survey the situation, but the party chairman quietly entered the ground from the Hussainabad gate. He offered fateha for the slain MQM activists and then left the ground.

What went down?

When the PTI leaders entered the Jinnah Ground, they were welcomed with rose petals and greeted by MQM leaders.

At this time, some PTI activists raised slogans against MQM chief Altaf Hussain. In return, MQM supporters started beating up PTI workers and even tore off their party flag, which led to a further clash. Police brought the situation under control, but the tense atmosphere compelled Imran to leave the ground without talking to the media.

Moreover, sources said secret talks were held between Umer, Zaidi and Sattar after the PTI rally arrived at the Jinnah Ground. They said PTI leaders also complained about MQM supporters’ behaviour to Sattar.

Hostile welcome

The rally then visited the Karimabad election camp passing through Mukka Chowk. Addressing the party workers waiting for their captain since morning, Imran congratulated his party’s candidate for taking the fear out of the people of Karachi.

Addressing Hussain on the Jinnah Ground clash, he said: “You told us you’ll welcome us. Then why did you attack us?”

Later, at the old terminal of the Karachi airport, the PTI chief also spoke to the media on the issue: “The people who attacked my supporters were not in control of the MQM leadership. The time has come for the MQM to quit the politics of violence.”

However, he admitted that the MQM leaders at the Jinnah Ground were trying to stop their party activists from attacking the PTI workers. Asked if the MQM had adopted a dual policy regarding the PTI, Imran said: “I reject this thought.”

Public meeting

The PTI chief announced holding a mammoth public gathering on April 19. He said the Jinnah Ground would not be able to accommodate the party activists and supporters and asked Ismail to look for another venue.

Asked when his supporters will learn to stay calm, Imran said his party had grown into a huge party so it was hard to control all the supporters.

On a lighter note, he complained that his wife had not received the promised gold jewellery from the MQM.

No ill will

Addressing a press conference after the PTI chairman’s incomplete visit to the Jinnah Ground, MQM’s Farooq Sattar said: “We cooked food, brought gifts and flowers to welcome Imran and his wife, but it would have been much better if he had made his way to the Yadgar-e-Shuhada.”

Regarding the clash, Sattar said such incidents occur at big gatherings. “This day should be marked in history. People were speculating
that something very big and bad would happen, but nothing did.”

He said Imran himself had agreed that the scuffle was a minor one, adding that regardless of what had occurred, the estrangement between the two parties had reduced. “We should not let this opportunity slip away from our hands.”

On the PTI chief’s statement about a hostile welcome, Sattar said: “The PTI should not doubt our motives; they are pure.” He urged the PTI to enhance communication with the MQM.

MQM’s Haider Abbas Rizvi termed Imran’s visit to the Jinnah Ground an “unprecedented event in the country’s history”.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2015.