KARACHI: In a first of its move in Karachi since a nationwide crackdown against it started following the May 9 violence, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has announced a public rally to be held on November 12 in the city to start its election campaign.

Most of senior PTI leaders have gone undergro­und or quit the party in the wake of the crackdown.

The party’s Karachi president, Khurram Sher Zaman, whose whereabouts are also not known, has made the announcement.

“The party is set to launch its highly-anticipated election campaign with a ‘grand jalsa’ on Nov 12. This momentous event is scheduled to take place on Rashid Minhas Road, opposite Millennium Mall, and promises to be a historic gathering that will energise the city and set the tone for the upcoming elections,” said the party statement.

“The decision to kick-start the election campai­gn with a grand jalsa was made during the Karachi cabinet meeting held earlier today,” it added.

The statement quoted Mr Zaman as saying that the event will not only be a remarkable showcase of unity within the party, but also an opportunity for us to connect with the people of Karachi.

“We have formally submitted a request with the Commissioner Karachi seeking permission for our upcoming event. We are optimistic about receiving a positive response as similar permissions have been granted to other political parties, which have already initiated their election campaigns. In the spirit of fairness and equitable treatment, we believe that all political parties should be provided the same opportunities, ensuring a level-playing field in this democratic process,” said Mr Zaman.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2023