Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has made his way to the stage as PPP showcases political power in MQM-stronghold of Liaquatabad today.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was expected to address the ‘mammoth’ public gathering of the party today at 4:00pm at Liaquatabad’s Tanki Ground, but his speech was delayed until 8pm.

According to the organisers, a 120 by 40 feet stage has been set up along with 30,000 chairs for party workers.

PPP Vice-President and Senate Opposition Leader Sherry Rehman visited the site to inspect the arrangements yesterday. Speaking to the media, she said that the PPP will not let Karachi’s condition deteriorate any further.

Police chalked out a security and traffic plan for the rally and according to security forces, Special Security Unit (SSU) is posted on the route and inside the venue. 2,100 district police personnel are also deployed, including one SSP, five SPs and 10 DSPs and 100 women police officials, while around 100 police pickups and five bulletproof vehicles are patrolling around the site of the rally as well.

Before the PPP’s public gathering, mysterious banners carrying anti-PPP slogans were seen in the Liaquatabad town. These banners, apparently displayed by ‘residents of the area’ and ‘businessmen Itehad’ criticised PPP for converting Karachi into a garbage dump.

CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has initiated several developmental projects across the city and now ahead of general elections, PPP has started holding public gatherings across Karachi, including the one at the MQM-stronghold Liaquatabad today.

The attempt to grab Liaquatabad from the stronghold of MQM comes after divisions in the party escalated as founder Altaf Hussain’s controversial speech led the security forces to take action against the party.

PPP is not first party showing its power in this area. In 2016, during NA-245 by-polls, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) organised rallies at a time when operation against MQM was in full swing. PTI were supposed to edge in the by-polls but its candidate, Amjadullah Khan opted to withdraw in favour of MQM candidate Kamal Malik.