No politics on Bilawal House, PPP warns PTI

Najmi Alam says Bilawal House is residence of late Benazir Bhutto and politics on it can't be tolerated * Patel says PTI is trying to spread chaos ahead of LG polls in province

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Saturday warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against politicking on Bilawal House after Imran Khan’s party issued a call to launch a campaign to demolish security wall outside the private residence of former president Asif Ali Zardari. Talking to the media outside Bilawal House, PPP leader Najmi Alam warned that there would be clashes if PTI workers try to bring down the wall forcibly. “Bilawal House is the residence of our martyred leader Benazir Bhutto and we will not tolerate anyone trying to create problems or play politics with it,” he said, as a large contingent of police and other security forces cordoned off the residence in the wake of PTI’s call.

He alleged that Imran Khan and his party is supporting the terrorists and by demanding the removal of the wall “Khan and his party want to expose Bilawal House to terrorists”. PPP Karachi division President Abdul Qadir Patel also slammed PTI MNA Dr Alvi, and said that it is not possible to surround Bilawal House.

“If they [PTI leaders and supporters] want to protest they must go to the press club or assemblies and this is not the way to protest,” said Patel. He also alleged that ahead of local government elections, Dr Alvi wants to create chaos. The two PPP leaders made these remarks after a large number of PTI supporters gathered outside Bilawal House to protest against security walls and blockade of the road.

As PTI supporters, led by MNA Dr Arif Alvi and MPA Khurram Sher Zaman, reached near Bilawal Chowrangi, a large number of PPP supporters led by Najmi Alam reached the site as well.

Tensions escalated as activists of both parties started chanting slogans against each other. To reduce tensions, authorities opened one side of the road that had been blocked for security reasons.

The PTI protest came just a day after PPP Patron-in-chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticised Imran Khan and his party during a public gathering in Garhi Khuda Bukhsh town.

A large number of policemen and other paramilitary personnel also rushed to Bilawal House to avert a possible clash between the workers of both parties. Meanwhile, the PTI has issued a call for protest demonstration at Bilwal Chowrangi, a roundabout outside the Bilawal House, today. Arif Alvi, who was elected MNA from NA-250, issued the call to hold a protest demonstration today (Sunday) at 1pm and announced that it would continue until Monday evening. Separately, talking to the media, police officer Aamir Farooqi said that police have opened one side of the road for the public use and installed CCTV cameras for security purposes. A large contingent of police has also been deployed outside Bilawal House to avert any clash, he said.