‘Altaf and his MQM goons’ behind attack on Ismail: Imran

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Tuesday condemned what he alleged was a cowardly attack on the party candidate for NA-246 by-election Imran Ismail in Karachi and claimed “it was carried out by the goons of MQM leader Altaf Hussain”.
In his reaction to the incident, Imran asked the people of Karachi to come out of their homes on April 19 and smash the already “shaking statue” of Altaf Hussain in the mega city. The PTI plans to hold a public meeting on this day in the mega city while polling will be held on April 23.
He said the PTI vehemently condemned the assault on Imran Ismail and alleged “Altaf and his goons are behind it, which reflects the fact the MQM leader is afraid of defeat in the upcoming by-election.”
Imran said the attack had given a new strength and resolve to the PTI and asked Altaf not to force ‘Pakistan’s most popular political party’ to show its power.Imran said the MQM had well-understood the fact that it was going to lose the April 23 by-election, as the people of Karachi were opposed to Altaf. He said the PTI would rid Karachi and the MQM of Altaf and his terror.
He pointed out that his party wanted democracy and not fascism in the name of democracy in Karachi. About the suspension of an SHO following the incident, the PTI chief maintained that by taking this measure, the people just could not be fooled.
Referring to the attack, Imran contended that during their campaign in Islamabad, the ruling PML-N had committed a mistake by resorting to violence against his party and now the same mistake was being committed by Altaf,resolve. He called on the Sindh government and the police to ensure protection of PTI in Karachi against what he called the MQM’s miscreants; otherwise, it would be construed that the police were with the MQM.
The PTI spokesperson said their party would take legal action against the MQM goons for mounting attack on Imran Ismail at Jinnah Ground. The spokesperson made it clear that to take part in election was the PTI’s right and resorting to violence was negation of democracy.
Meanwhile, PTI Additional Secretary General Saifullah Niazi, in a statement gave protest call against the Jinnah Ground attack for Wednesday (today).Meanwhile, the area police have registered a case against some PTI workers.