KARACHI: Tempers flared as a potential clash between supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was averted in Karachi on Saturday evening during a protest about the security wall surrounding Bilawal House.
Protesters led by PTI MNA Dr Arif Alvi and MPA Khurram Sher Zaman gathered near Bilawal Chowrangi on Saturday evening to protest the security wall, declared illegal by the court, as part of their campaign to demolish the structure.
The real Awami Log #PTI MNA Dr.Arif Alvi and on the bonut of a car he is our MPA sindh Khurrum Zaman at Bilawal house pic.twitter.com/Xqkff7kscW
— Irfan Jilani (@IrfanJlaniPTI) December 28, 2013
They were confronted by PPP supporters, determined to stop the protesters, though both groups mostly traded slogans. A small scuffle also reportedly took place between the two groups of supporters as some people tried to march on to a blocked section of the road.
Bilawal House wall protest will remain Peaceful
We walked away from area w/o confrontation as #PPP jiyalas were geared up to fight
— Awab Alvi (@DrAwab) December 28, 2013
As tempers rose, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari responded via his twitter account that if Imran Khan, the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Prime Minister could speak up against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, he would tear down the wall himself.
If Buzdil Khan, Nawaz Sharif and JI find the courage to say 1/2 of wht I said vs. TTP yesterday I will tear down Bilawal House wall myself.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) December 28, 2013
Back outside Bilawal House in Karachi, Arif Alvi told his supporters that “roads are for the public and no one can snatch people’s rights to use the roads.”
I dont begrudge security for ex-Pres Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto but there is too much inconvenience to the public of that area,SHC said same
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) December 28, 2013
PTI started actively campaigning on social media on Friday, urging people to gather outside the Bilawal House to demolish a section of the wall deemed illegal by the court. The main protest is set for Sunday afternoon.
District south Traffic Police superintendent Tanveer Odho told The Express Tribune that they had on Saturday diverted traffic away from Khayaban-e-Saadi, on which Bilawal House is located, to avoid any untoward incident as a small group of protesters massed near the obstructions.
“We have not received any complaints from commuters regarding any sort problems they face due to the wall built along Bilawal House and I have no reports regarding any traffic mishap on this road,” said Odho, adding that the legal or illegal status of the road was the responsibility of the cantonment board under whose jurisdiction the stretch of road fell.
Additional Superintendent Police Clifton Abadit Nisar added that “the road was opened for traffic last night and traffic is on-going through per routine.”
The 50 feet high wall, which stretches for 650m over both the main tracks of Khayaban-e-Saadi, has effectively reduced the capacity of the thoroughfare by 75 per cent. General traffic is forced to travel on what was previously a service lane to the six lane artery. The encroachment on the roads had actively begun after Asif Ali Zardari took oath as the President of Pakistan in September 2008.
The road leads from Bilawal Chowrangi to Sea View with a number of popular eateries and restaurants located on it. A popular art school is located just off the road as well.
The wall was declared illegal by the Sindh High Court in September, and upheld by the Supreme Court in October, terming the encroachment to be a violation of Article 9 of the Constitution.
The feud goes digital
PTI’s campaign surfaced on social networking sites late on Friday evening when PTI MNA Dr Arif Alvi shared the event on his official Facebook page. Arif Alvi was elected from NA-250, and Bilawal House falls within his constituency.
Dr Alvi, along with other PTI party workers also took to Twitter to spread their message.
Remember folks it is a peaceful protest and the law is on our side. Bilawal House in not an issue the road blockade is.
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) December 27, 2013
According to PTI MPA Khurram Sher Zaman, one side of the road blockage has allegedly opened while the other one remains closed.
Im standing at Bilawal house roundabout road. Now they have opened 1 side but other side is still close.
— Khurrum SherZaman (@KhurrumZamanPTI) December 28, 2013
Police is planning to arrest me at Billawal house road.
— Khurrum SherZaman (@KhurrumZamanPTI) December 28, 2013
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) loyalists responded to the campaign.
@ArifAlvi @BBhuttoZardari @ShireenMazari1 Dr sb.. Thought you were saner than the rest of the Pti ppl around..There r better ways 2 campaign
— Sharmila faruqi (@sharmilafaruqi) December 27, 2013
All the workers of @PYO Karachi are directed to reach #BilawalHouse by 11 in the morning tomorrow.
Secretary Information -
#PYOKarachi.
— Malik Zameer Hassan (@ComradePk) December 28, 2013
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon hit back on Dr Awab Alvi’s clinic which allegedly violates building laws.
D32 block4 clifton.Arif Alvi's dental hospital,a commercial establishment in residential area.It is in violation. Where is INSAAF of PTI.
— sharjeel inam memon (@sharjeelinam) December 28, 2013
Members of other political parties including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) also responded to the campaign.
Join PTI, they are looking for all possible excuses ;) “@norbalm: I want a Dharna against 31st Dec Road Closures in #DHA & #Clifton”
— Syed Ali Raza Abidi (@abidifactor) December 28, 2013