KARACHI: Unidentified men wielding bats and bricks attacked the convoy of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founding member Imran Ismail near Jinnah Ground in the Azizabad area.

TV footage showed men attacking the convoy and smashing the windows of a white Land Cruiser with cricket bats as it drove off. The windows of another car were also smashed and jeering people were seen kicking the vehicles.

While addressing a press conference, Ismail said “Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activists manhandled and injured PTI workers, they also smashed the windows of our vehicles. PTI will lodge an FIR against the people responsible for this vandalism.”

Acting on the request of PTI member Uzair Afridi, Azizabad police have registered an FIR against unidentified people for attacking PTI convoy near Jinnah Ground. Meanwhile, MQM has also lodged a complain against PTI activists in Azizabad police station.

Ismail was in Azizabad — known as the bastion of the MQM — to announce the party’s intent to hold a rally at Jinnah Ground in Azizabad on April 19.

He said, "It is perceived as Altaf Hussain’s house and there could be some trouble, but we want to say we have absolutely no fear ... We want to have a rally there."

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DawnNews screengrab shows PTI leader Imran Ismail.

PTI activists disrespected martyrs monument: MQM

MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi while addressing a press conference later in the day said, “PTI activists have disrespected the martyrs monument located adjacent to Jinnah Ground.”

“They abused MQM leadership and its martyrs while standing on the monument which triggered a violent response from the residents of the area,” he added.

Rizvi went on to say that MQM has no threat whatsoever from any other party with respect to the upcoming by-election. He urged the authorities to develop a code of conduct for holding election in NA-246.

PTI eager to hold rally at Jinnah Ground

The central PTI leader said it was a matter of principle for the party to hold a rally at Jinnah Ground. He said that a request had already been filed with the Deputy Commissioner for permission.

Ismail said that the PTI was going to contend for the seat without forming alliances. "We are in talks with other parties but we are not looking to form an alliance."

"Previously, the Jamaat-e-Islami used to claim that it [Azizabad] was theirs and said 'no one apart from us can win'. They were defeated by the MQM. No one rules forever. MQM will hopefully be defeated by the PTI."

DawnNews screengrab shows a man kicking PTI leader's vehicle.

He appeared to be optimistic about the party's chances for success, saying “You think that our influence has been diffused ─ I feel our inluence has increased. I am fighting elections on this basis. Did you see the result for Kashmir? All the parties on one side, PTI on one side ─ and we still got a seat. We will show you the same thing today."

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Ismail's announcement of a possible rally comes ahead of a bye-election for NA-246 — a constituency left vacant last month when MQM MNA Nabeel Gabol resigned from his seat. The MQM has nominated former Hyderabad nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil as their candidate for for the NA-246 constituency.

The PTI has fielded Ismail as its candidate to contest in the election scheduled to be held on April 23. Ismail is a founding member of the party and is said to be close to its chairman Imran Khan. He often represents the party at talk shows and was a present on stage with Khan during the Islamabad protests last year.

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 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.

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