PPP, MQM-P trade barbs following deadly clash between workers
Pakistan
PPP, MQM-P trade barbs following deadly clash between workers
KARACHI (Dunya News) – The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) traded accusations after a Friday evening clash between workers of the two parties left a child dead and three people wounded.
The incident occurred in New Karachi’s Sector 11-J, where charged workers of the PPP and the MQM-P exchanged harsh words leading to an armed clash.
In back-to-back pressers in Karachi, the two parties gave their side of the story to come out clean, four days ahead of the general elections in the country.
PPP’s Saeed Ghani said the MQM-P leadership were accusing them of instigating party workers for clashes, arguing that his party did not need this violence as it was already in a winning position.
He said three workers of his party were injured and cars were set afire, but local police have not yet registered a case on their complaint.
Fearing similar incidents, Ghani said if violence revisited Karachi on polling day in the form of clashes, it would not be in the interest of the metropolis as well as the country.
The PPP leader accused the police of lethargy and inaction, saying had they acted in a timely manner when an MQM-P worker was killed in a previous clash, the second incident could have been avoided.
He further said that when the MQM-P worker was killed, the PPP had abruptly demanded a judicial investigation into the matter.
Ghani accused the MQM-P of waging attacks on PPP’s electoral activities to serve its political interests.
On the other hand, MQM’s Faisal Sabzwari accused PPP workers of subjecting his party workers who were accompanied by their families to violence. He said MQM workers did not attack anyone.
Addressing a press conference, Sabzwari demanded that the arms licences be cancelled till the conclusion of the Feb 8 elections.
He complained that the station house officer (SHO) of the relevant police station did not register an FIR (first information report) on their complaint.
The MQM-P leader alleged that the PPP had been trying to turn the Karachi Central district into Larkana and Kaccha areas through the misuse of the administrative power and weapons.
He also mentioned the torturing of MQM’s union council in-charge for Nazimabad area.
Sabzwari blamed PPP’s Dr Asim of firing shots at MQM workers, saying he had lost senses after getting intoxicated.
He said PPP ‘goons’ had no respect for humanity, they were attacking unarmed people with weapons.
Sabzwari also criticised Sindh’s caretaker chief minister Justice (r) Maqbool Baqar, alleging that he was a jiyala and had inclination towards the PPP.
He further said that PPP leaders Dr Asim and Saeed Ghani were using PPP workers for their ulterior motives.
