Ghani accuses MQM-P of resorting to violence in Karachi

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Karachi President Saeed Ghani on Monday accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) of resorting to violence in the city because of being upset after seeing the success of the election campaign of the PPP.

Speaking at a press conference at the media cell of the Bilawal House, Ghani claimed that coercive means are being used to remove election campaign banners and flags of the PPP in the city.

He told the media that three activists of the PPP had suffered injuries in the violent clash in Nazimabad the previous night, and that the incident had proved fatal for one person.

He said that earlier, the PPP’s offices in the city had been attacked while the activists of the party had been subjected to violence. The PPP’s flags have been torched at many spots in the city, he added.

He also said that the PPP’s banners had been torn while activists of the party had been beaten up in Jafar-e-Tayyar Society in the city.

Ghani, who earlier served as Sindh’s labour minister in the previous PPP government, said that the campaign banners and flags of his party had been removed from several spots in the city.

He said that in the past District Central had remained a virtual no-go area for activists of the rival parties of the MQM. But other political parties have started campaigning in the Central and Korangi districts of the city, he added.

He also said that the MQM-P has started acting in a manner as if it is still working under the patronage of MQM founder Altaf Hussain.

The opponents of the PPP are being subjected to violence, so the state’s agencies should act to prevent violence on the part of the MQM-P to avoid further worsening of the situation, he added.

Ghani urged the authorities to order a judicial investigation into the previous night’s violent clash. He said the PPP would take responsibility if its workers are found involved in violence.

He held MQM-P leader Mustafa Kamal responsible for the clash, saying that the former city mayor has been threatening the PPP for the past many days.