Karachi Imran Ismail, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate for NA-246, announced on Saturday that the venue for the party’s rally on April 19 had been changed from the Jinnah Ground to Shahrah-e-Pakistan because of security reasons. Addressing a press conference at the PTI camp office, Ismail said party chief Imran Khan had indicated that the streets and lanes leading to the Jinnah Ground were narrow and the venue should be changed. “Keeping in view the situation and the expected high attendance, the venue has been changed. Imran Khan will come to Karachi on April 18 and speak at the rally the next day,” he added. On his recent visit to the Jinnah Ground, Khan and his supporters had faced difficulties in reaching there, as Muttahida Qaumi Movement activists and supporters had gathered around them and shouting slogans against the PTI. Replying to question, Ismail said the PTI had requested the Jamaat-e-Islami to withdraw its candidate. Sources within the JI said the party might withdraw its candidate from the NA 246 race. However, another party source was optimistic that the JI would convince the PTI to withdraw its candidate. But with the election hype that the PTI has created, it is unlikely to do that. Ismail also announced that the PTI was ready to contest the local bodies elections in Karachi too. He dispelled the impression that the PTI had entered into an agreement with the MQM. “We just don’t want any confrontation as this stage and want the elections to be held peacefully.”
