Karachi showdown: Imran urges voters to lay foundation of new Pakistan on April 23

Imran Ismail says they do not fear the MQM; will go to every nook and corner of the city

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Sunday urged the citizens of Karachi to lay foundation of a new Pakistan by voting for his party on April 23, the day of polling in NA-246 constituency in the city. 

"People of Karachi must come out on April 23, register their vote, and show support for PTI to help us create a new Karachi and a new Pakistan," said Imran while addressing a huge gathering of his supporters at Shahrah-e-Pakistan.

He reiterated that he was not fighting to get another seat of the National Assembly but to build a better and peaceful Karachi.

Read: Race for Azizabad: By-polls to decide Karachi’s future, says Imran Khan

Imran claimed that fresh elections after the judicial commission’s decision on electoral rigging 2013 polls will enable the PTI to claim smashing victory from Punjab, let alone other cities.

He questioned the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain that why he was in London for the past 23 years when his party ‘ruled’ the city.

Earlier, PTI candidate from NA-246, Imran Ismail said they do not fear the MQM and will go to every nook and corner of the city, as well as Hyderabad and rid these cities of fear.

Other leaders who addressed the workers on the occasion included vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Faisal Vawda, Karachi President Ali Zaidi and Khurram Sher Zaman.

The rally staged near Aisha Manzil in the MQM-stronghold was marred by a brief but perturbing power outage when the generator went off, shutting down the sound system and the lights set up near the stage.

According to K-Electric, the outage was caused by a technical issue in the generator and that the party had control of the power system at the venue.

Read: NA-246 by-polls: ECP declines request for biometric system

PTI could not immediately restore electricity in the area because of the absence of an alternate system.

On the occasion, a scuffle was witnessed between PTI activists caused by a usual lack of discipline, worrying the security managers and party’s volunteers who barred the activists from climbing onto the stage.

On Saturday night, the PTI chairman arrived in Karachi along with wife Reham Khan and senior party leaders.

According to analysts, PTI in today’s political showdown attempted to counter the effects of the mammoth and successful gathering staged by their arch-rivals, the MQM on Saturday night.

With only three days left to the crucial by-elections in the metropolis, the contestants are trying their utmost to make the best impact possible on the masses, emphasising their manifestos and their plans for the uplift of the city.

Electoral alliance

Earlier during the day, Majlis-e-Wehdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) announced support for PTI, saying they will cast votes for Imran Ismail to ensure his victory in the by-polls.