KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, which has formally fielded as candidate its central leader Imran Ismail in the by-election for NA-246, has called upon the government to deploy army troops in and outside polling stations in the constituency to provide protection to voters.

The party also announced seeking permission from the city administration to hold a public meeting at the Jinnah Ground in Azizabad on April 19. Polling for the by-election is scheduled for April 23, 2015.

The NA-246 constituency, considered to be a stronghold of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, has fallen vacant after the resignation of Nabeel Gabol who was elected to the National Assembly on an MQM ticket in the May 2013 general elections.

At a press conference at the party’s media cell here on Monday, PTI central leaders Dr Arif Alvi, Imran Ismail and Firdous Shamim Naqvi condemned what they termed the threats hurled by MQM chief Altaf Hussain in his latest speech and his statement to break up Pakistan.

They urged the national security institutions, Pemra and the federal ministry of information to take notice of the statement and ban such controversial speeches.

Dr Alvi said the election for NA-246 was not just a routine election. Therefore, the government should provide people complete freedom to exercise their right to vote in a peaceful and transparent manner by ending the prevailing atmosphere of fear in the city, he said.

He said the 2013 polls had been hijacked in Karachi and their party had been pushed out of the race through sheer rigging. “We have no differences with the political wing of the MQM, but there should be no militant wing of any party or organisation. The apex court had pointed out existence of militant wings in the Pakistan Peoples Party, MQM and Awami National Party,” he said. He said that eight of their candidates including Imran Ismail had filed nomination papers for the NA-246 but now other candidates would withdraw their papers on Tuesday — the last date for withdrawal of nominations — after the party decision to award the ticket to Mr Ismail.

In reply to a question Dr Alvi said that the PTI and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had reached an agreement on the constitution of a judicial commission which would be signed within 48 hours, followed by PTI decision to attend the assembly sessions.

He termed fake the audio-tape about his conversation with Imran Khan which had occupied airwaves for a couple of days and said their words had been twisted in the tape.

Mr Shamim Naqvi said the speech delivered by Altaf Hussain the previous night was against the founders of Pakistan. “Our elders did not opt for migration to break up Pakistan. They came here to develop this country into a strong fort,” he said.

He condemned the MQM chief’s statement and demanded authorities concerned take its notice and ban its telecast.

Mr Ismail said the by-election for NA-246 was not merely a routine election but the beginning of a change in the city. “We want to pull Karachi out of the suffocating atmosphere of fear and terrorism because of which Karachiites have been exploited for 30 years by the MQM,” he said.

Mr Ismail’s profile

Born in Karachi in 1966, Mr Ismail received initial education from Cantt Public School. He graduated from National College and then got higher education in leather and chemical technology from Italy and the US.

He is one of the founding members of the PTI who started his career as a volunteer for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust in 1992 and played an important role in collection of funds for the trust by organising a mega campaign.

In the wake of the devastating floods of 2010 he laid the foundation of Imran Khan Trust and set up an emergency hospital in Jamshoro where medical treatment was provided to a large number of people. He has also to his credit the collection of Rs12 billion in donations in collaboration with Pukar Foundation.

During his over a decade long association with the party, Mr Ismail contested for PS-91 which is now PS-115 in 1997 and held various offices including the post of PTI Karachi and PTI Sindh president. At present he holds the office of central deputy secretary general of the party. He had also been a member of KCCI and managing committee of the Orangi Industrial Association.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2015

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