KARACHI: Imran expelled from city, PTI workers held
By Imran Ayub
KARACHI, Sept 12: Imran Khan, the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI), failed to defy the orders of the Sindh government on Wednesday when the authorities bundled him off to Islamabad just 30 minutes after he landed at Karachi’s Jinnah Terminal, while over a dozen of his party workers were arrested as they gathered to welcome their leader.
PTI workers, including Sindh president Zubair Khan, who had managed to breach the barriers on various roads leading from Sharea Faisal to Jinnah Terminal and reach the airport, were picked up by the police.
Meanwhile the PTI chief, who arrived on the Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-301, was forced to board the Islamabad-bound Shaheen Air Intenational plane NL-123 after a brief confrontation with security officials at the airport.
‘Deported’ under MPO
A senior official stated that the action was taken in line with government orders that, under Section 5(1)(a) and (c) of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), disallowed Khan from entering Sindh for one month. He added that PTI workers were arrested under Section 144 which disallowed public gatherings in any part of the city.
“Imran Khan and the members of his party were aware of the situation and we tried our best to convince them, but they opted for defiance,” said Wasim Akhtar, the Sindh Adviser to the Chief Minister on Home Affairs.
He claimed that the government had no intention of suppressing anyone’s political rights and the ban on the PTI leader was part of several measures taken to keep traffic unaffected.
“We have arrested 17 PTI workers who violated Section 144 and caused disorder at the airport,” he added. “They are under custody in different police stations.”
The provincial adviser also hinted that the imposition of Section 144, which places curbs on public gatherings and political activities, might be extended. “There is a massive development work going on across the city, which obviously can’t be stopped,” he said. “The only thing we can do is stop activities that further affect the traffic flow, so an extension in the imposition of Section 144 can be an option but it’s too early to be certain about that.”
‘We’ll get our man’
The government and the PTI locked horns in May when Imran Khan challenged the chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, before a British court over the May 12 violence in Karachi that left over 40 people dead, mainly the political workers of opposition parties.
Mr Hussain has been in exile in London for more than 15 years.
Mr Khan alleged that Mr Hussain was responsible for the worst chaos the city had witnessed in over than a decade. He claimed in his petition that Scotland Yard had already initiated an investigation into the charges against the exiled leader and appeared optimistic that the desired results would be received this month.
“September is our target for big achievements as far as the case against Altaf Hussain is concerned,” said Imran Khan. “We will soon release details that we received from the British authorities and this month, I hope we will get our man.”
Condemning in strong terms the expulsion orders issued by the Sindh government and vowing to challenge the move in the high court, the PTI chief maintained that the MQM had been in a panic since he had exposed it. “They [government of Sindh] have violated the constitution by denying me the right of expression,” he averred. “How can political activities be banned on the basis of development work? These are tactics to keep political leaders away from the people.”
The latest ban on Mr Khan’s entry into Sindh is the second in less than four months, since in May the authorities refused the opposition leader entry when he was due to visit after the May 12 violence.
This time, however, the authorities say the PTI leader may visit Karachi at a later point, but only to hold party meetings – he must avoid public gatherings and processions that cause traffic congestion.
“We can’t afford road blockades for the sake of processions and rallies,” said Mr Akhtar, the Sindh Adviser to the Chief Minister on Home Affairs.
KARACHI, Sept 12: Imran Khan, the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI), failed to defy the orders of the Sindh government on Wednesday when the authorities bundled him off to Islamabad just 30 minutes after he landed at Karachi’s Jinnah Terminal, while over a dozen of his party workers were arrested as they gathered to welcome their leader.
