KARACHI, April 26: Supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) exchanged blows at the entrance of the party office when some of them were denied entry as their leader spoke at a press conference on Tuesday.

At least two persons were injured in the fight between supporters of sitting office-bearers of the PML-N and their opponents. The chaotic scenes were witnessed at the Sindh chapter’s head office of the PML-N just a day after it came under attack apparently in reaction to a controversial statement by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif that he later clarified regarding creating new provinces in Sindh.

PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal had flown from Islamabad to address the media in Karachi, explaining the party’s point of view on the administrative divisions of provinces.

He said new provinces should be created in Pakistan on the basis of administration and the way national consensus was achieved on the 18th amendment in the constitution, the same consensus should be evolved on the issue of creating new provinces in the country.

He said the rulers were upset by his party’s progressive message and increasing popularity. Voices for change were also being heard in Sindh, he said, adding that people were fed up with poverty and unemployment.

Mr Iqbal condemned terrorism, extremism and attack on the party offices and a business concern in Clifton belonging to one of his party leaders. He said despite the clarification by Mr Sharif that he did not mean the division of Sindh by carving out Karachi, these attacks were a proof of the failure of the Sindh government to protect the life and property of people. In reply to a question, he said that those demanding the creation of provinces on ethnic grounds should come up with the number of provinces they wanted to carve out in the country.

He claimed that the PML had faced highhandedness of the Musharraf regime and emerged as a strong party. The PML-N would emerge stronger if it was brought under pressure through mean tactics even now, he added.

He said the reference of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had been moved only to divert the people’s attention from the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. “Rest assured, our party will arrest her killers after coming into power,” he said.

Mr Iqbal said the PML-N would rid the country of the menace of corruption and inflation and claimed that a revolution in the field of education would be brought about by opening Danish Schools where students would be given scholarships. “The PML government after coming into power would ensure similar facilities of education and healthcare as are being provided to farmers and common man in Punjab,” he said.

Asked about drone attacks, he said that drone attacks in Pakistan “could not be possible without consent of the government”.