PTI set to stage rally today for city’s rights

Party chief Imran Khan to lead protest rally; traffic police announce alternative routes

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is all set to take out a rally for the Karachi’s rights on Sunday as the party has received no objection certificate from the city administration, a PTI spokesperson said on Saturday.

“All arrangements for the protest have been finalised,” the spokesperson said.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan will reach the city Sunday morning, while MNA Asad Umer is already in the city. PTI leader Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi will also attend the rally.

The party has established camps at strategic positions of the city and party workers distributed pamphlets and handbills to garner public support. 

Talking to media, PTI leader Asad Umer criticised rulers for not giving Karachi its due rights. He said the PTI chief was standing with the people of Karachi to solve their issues.

He said the party chief had issued directives to the party leaders and supporters to handle the rally carefully and make it a successful protest rally.

Umar said the ones who claimed to be the guardians of the city and also remained in power never solved the city’s issues. “They were only interested in point scoring.”

PTI leader Imran Ismail held the Muttahida Qaumi Movement responsible for ignoring basic issues of the city. 

He said the city had been divided on ethnic and religious basis but the MQM was only busy in gaining its own vested interests.

“The people were divided on political and ethnic grounds by political forces for their own benefits,” he said.

Ismail said he had witnessed Karachi’s downfall at the hands of political parties and the provincial government. He said the Karachi’s investment was moved to Dubai and the metropolis was systematically ruined. 

Traffic plan 

The Karachi traffic police have chalked out a plan in view of the the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s rally to be taken out from the Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday (today).

The traffic police chief, DIG Asif Aijaz Shaikh, said the PTI’s ‘Huqooq-e-Karachi’ rally will commence at 4pm.

Form the the Mazar-e-Quaid’s VIP Gate, it will move towards the Pakistan Peoples Party Chowrangi at the New MA Jinnah Road and will conclude at Jail Chowrangi.

Shaikh said additional staff had been provided to the New Town DSP traffic and the traffic sections in the adjacent areas. He said more staff would be provided as per the requirement 

DIG Shaikh said the diversion points were Saddar Dawakhana, Numaish, Gurumandir, Excise Chowrangi, Jail Main Gate, Jail Chowrangi Flyover Ramp towards Shaheed-e-Millat and Hassan Square.