KARACHI: This weekend in Karachi kicks off with three simultaneous political gatherings as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Awami National Party (ANP) gearing up to hold political rallies in the metropolis today (Saturday).
The rallies being organized to remember the people killed in May 12, 2007 violence in the metropolis, will be a rehearsal of the parties to mobilize their workers for the upcoming general elections, likely to be held in the end of July this year.
PPP preparations
The preparations of PPP rally are in full swing at Baagh-e-Jinnah ground where Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will address party workers.
Bilwal claimed that today’s rally of Karachi will be a reminiscent of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s rallies in the metropolis.
CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah also visited the venue last night to oversee the arrangements. The organizers have placed 40,000 chairs in the ground.
PTI show
On the other hand, PTI workers are passionately setting up a stage of 60 feet width and 25 feet height at the Aladdin Park.
Yesterday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan made sure to stir up the excitement for May 12 party rally through a special video message: conveying the agenda that his rally will focus upon.
As the chairs’ placement indicates, PTI is expecting to gather around 25 thousand people in the ground.
ANP Rally
Last but not the least, Awami National Party (ANP) will also hold a rally-cum-commemoration in Karachi at Bacha Khan Chowk in Banaras Colony.
According to ANP spokesperson, the party will organize a Quran Khwani for May 12 martyrs ahead of their rally.
MQM-P Quran Khwani
Not a rally, but Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) will also arrange Quran Khwani today for the martyrs of May 12 incident at the residence of Dr. Farooq Sattar in PIB Colony.
According to the press release of MQM-P, all party workers including local representatives, Rabita committee (Coordination committee), Central Executive Committee and people from other divisions of MQM-P will gather to say prayers for the departed souls of May 12.
May 12 venue dispute:
It is pertinent to mention here, on May 8, political workers belonging to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came to blows after a dispute over venue for May 12 rallies turned violent here at Karachi’s Hakim Saeed ground.
Following a bloody clash, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) both announced on May 9 to change the venue from Hakeem Muhammad Saeed Ground “in the best interest of the residents of Karachi.”
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