KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s much-awaited trip to Sindh was marred by scuffles and indiscipline — both in Hyderabad and Karachi.

Upon his arrival at Hyderabad on Wednesday, PTI workers welcomed their leader with a scuffle forcing him to alter his exit route. As the activists became rowdy, the PTI chairman was forced to depart from another exit of the airport.

DawnNews screengrab shows Imran addressing press conference in Hyderabad.

PTI workers chanted "Go, Nadir Leghari Go" slogans against the PTI's Sindh chapter president before Imran Khan's arrival and had planned to register their protest against Leghari.

Imran Khan donned the traditional mirrored Sindhi topi as he addressed a press conference in Hyderabad.

Later in the day, while trying to address a press conference in Karachi, Imran had to stop his speech halfway after journalists protested against the biased behaviour of PTI office bearers, who barred certain media persons from entering the residence of Imran Ismail — where the press conference was to be held.

Also read: Nihari turned sour for PTI's Imran Ismail

Earlier it was announced that Imran Khan will address a press conference at 9pm. However, the press conference started half-an-hour before time only to be suspended minutes later following the protest by media persons who were not allowed to enter Imran Ismail's residence.

It took the PTI workers some time and effort to address the concerns of media persons, who were reportedly furious over the biased behaviour, according to DawnNews.

Read more: MQM to welcome Imran in Karachi: Altaf

When the issue was settled and Imran Khan resumed his press conference, he was asked by journalists to apologise over the rude behaviour of his party workers, which he humbly did.

Commenting on the upcoming by-elections in NA-246, Imran Khan said, “This by-election holds a symbolic value as we are fighting to shed off a sense of fear which has engulfed the residents of Karachi for decades”.

Know more: MQM-PTI code of conduct

The PTI is campaigning in Karachi to gain support for its candidate Imran Ismail, the man who is set to contest elections on April 23 from MQM stronghold Azizabad.

In what appears to be an attempt to lower the political temperature in the city, Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain had said his party will welcome Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in Karachi after bitter exchanges between the two in recent weeks.

He also congratulated, in advance, the PTI chairman for his party’s public meeting to be held in Azizabad on April 19 in connection with the April 23 by-election.