KARACHI, May 20: The ongoing war of words between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf followed by protest demonstrations after the killing of PTI leader Zahra Shahid Hussain on the eve of re-polling in NA-250 are being seen as a situation leading to polarization in a city with a history of political killings.

Both parties having gone too far need to contain themselves and avoid provocative speeches as ‘peaceful’ protests after such statements from their leaderships can easily descend into violence, observers say.

When asked about the conflict between the PTI and the MQM, cultural commentator Hasan Zaidi says, “This polarization is not good for the city. There have been irresponsible statements from both sides. People are too quick to get angry partly because not enough credence is given to one’s position.

“Karachi is a non-homogeneous city and to expect that everyone thinks the same way is not only foolish but also dangerous.”

He says the PTI claiming that people have been forced to vote for the MQM is silly. “Similarly the MQM claiming that only ‘burgers’ voted for the PTI in NA-250 is also silly. There is a dynamic working here [in the city] and both parties need to accept it. Provocative claims and provocative statements are not going to help things,” he adds.

Rahimullah Yusufzai, a Peshawar-based senior journalist, says that the parties cannot take things too far otherwise there may be repercussions in the form of attacks.

“Imran Khan needs to be realistic. He has to realise that his party leader in Karachi Arif Alvi has to work and live in the city. Imran Khan should have restrained himself and his party members should control their language,” says Mr Yusufzai.

About the MQM, he says, “The MQM thinks that Karachi is its turf and needs to have complete monopoly. The MQM cannot behave the way it is behaving right now.”

When MQM leader Wasay Jalil is asked if his party is overreacting to the PTI’s statements, he says, “The MQM is not overreacting. Besides, we will not do anything that is against the law.

“I think Mr Imran Khan is frustrated because he has lost the mandate in Punjab and in Sindh. He wants to gain popularity through the MQM but it will not help him because it will unite the party even more. He should avoid using the language that he is using which is more suited to the lower-tier of a party. Also despite bomb blasts on the MQM prior to the elections we could not hold any election rally yet on May 11 people came out and voted for us. I am not saying that they only voted for us but also for the PTI and other parties because people will vote for other parties too. Mr Khan must avoid those statements that provoke the workers of MQM.”

Nadir Leghari, the Sindh PTI president, is equally convinced of his party’s stance. He says, “Imran Khan knew that the threats were being given to our party members. At least he had the courage to say what he said. The kind of language used by the other side was unacceptable.

“However, we do feel that the murder that has taken place there has circumstantial evidence and that we need to get the facts together.”

As for the way forward, both party leaders say that they are protesting that is well within their right to do so.

Mr Jalil claims there is no tension in the city and that their party has maintained law and order during their protests while Mr Leghari says that theirs is a peace movement and have been given the mandate to protect people’s voice. However, Mr Zaidi hopes that the conflict goes down between the two parties.