KARACHI: Contrary to Imran Khan’s apprehension that he would be pelted with tomatoes and eggs upon arriving at Jinnah Ground Thursday, the rival Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was all set to gift the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman a shalwar kameez suit and a jewelry set for his wife Reham Khan.

The jewelry set, however, remains at Nine Zero as Imran Khan did not visit the MQM headquarters during his Karachi visit.

An MQM official had told Dawn.com that MQM Chief Altaf Hussain has advised the party to gift a jewelry set to Reham Khan and a shalwar kameez suit to Imran Khan "as part of the tradition that celebrates a new couple's visit to anyone's house".

With the better part of last week marred by a heated exchange of words and rivalry between the MQM chief and Imran — who have both nominated candidates from their parties to contest for the vacant NA-246 constituency in Karachi — the move to give presents to the PTI chief and his wife shows that the MQM supremo is apparently willing to let bygones be bygones.

MQM leader Farooq Sattar had also expressed hope that Altaf's presents to the duo will help to quench the atmosphere of conflict between the contesting parties.

Home-cooked lunch for Imran, Reham

PTI's Sindh women wing hosted a luncheon in honour of Imran Khan and his wife Reham Khan's visit.

The lunch was held at the party's women wing president for Sindh Nazia Rabbani's residence who lives near Water Pump Chowrangi in Karachi.

Speaking to Dawn.com via telephone, Rabbani said the lunch buffet included dishes lovingly prepared by PTI's Sindh chapter womenfolk who were thrilled to host Imran and his wife. The menu was devised keeping in mind the flavours of Karachi, she said.

The traditional mutton karahi, dum ka keema, chicken handi, haleem were some of the dishes on the menu whereas desserts included ice-cream, kulfi and suji ka halwa.

"It is our good fortune that we can host both Imran Khan and his wife," Rabbani had said. She added that it would be Imran's first visit to her residence.

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PTI's General Secretary Jehangir Tareen was also present at the lunch reception as well as the party's candidate for NA-246 constituency Imran Ismail.

The PTI is campaigning in Karachi ahead of a forthcoming by-election in Karachi's NA-246 — an MQM bastion which was left vacant after the resignation of MQM leader Nabeel Gabol.

Read: Imran Khan's trip to Sindh marred by scuffles and protests