MQM, PTI leaders to devise ‘code of conduct’ for Azizabad by-poll

KARACHI: A meeting between leaders belonging to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will be held on Wednesday to formulate a code of conduct for the upcoming by-election in Azizabad (NA-246) constituency.

According to a statement issued by DIG West Feroz Shah, leaders of the two parties are invited to attend the meeting.

Shah said that the police and local administration would try their best to avoid any untoward incident like Tuesday’s Jinnah Ground debacle in which workers of the two parties came face to face and chanted slogans against each other.

PTI leader Imran Ismail along with supporters paid a visit to Jinnah Ground in Azizabad to review preparations for their upcoming public rally on April 19.

According to MQM workers, those accompanying Ismail tore posters of MQM chief Altaf Hussain and desecrated the ‘martyrs memorial’.

MQM workers then allegedly smashed windowpanes of the vehicles of PTI leaders, who had to leave the Jinnah Ground shortly after they had arrived.

Both the parties also lodged FIRs blaming each other for the incident.

PTI has fielded its candidate Imran Ismail in the by-election for NA-246 constituency, which is considered the stronghold of MQM. The elections are scheduled to be held on April 23.