KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) now are in a verbal dispute after a clash between the activists of both the parties that turned Hakeem Saeed playground into a battlefield over organising a rally on May 12 at the same venue.

As per details, PPP and PTI workers clashed with each other late on Monday after the local leadership of both the parties kicked off the campaign to mobilise their workers to participate  to make their May 12 event successful. The leaders of the two parties were at loggerheads to hold the event at Hakeem Saeed Shaheed Ground adjacent to Urdu University, and no one was willing to back off from their position.

The clash erupted when workers of PPP and PTI came face to face and chanted slogans against each other. The situation got tense after the activists pelted stones and used sticks against each other, gunshots were also fired that created panic among the local residents of the area. Dozens of workers of both the parties were reportedly injured in the clash and several vehicles were set on fire.

When police failed to control the situation, Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal and PTI leader  Faisal Vawda  reached the venue and urged the workers to stay peaceful to bring the situation under control by demonstrating patience to avoid chaos.

Later heavey contingent of police and rangers were called in the area to disburse the angry mob and they removed the camps of both the parties following the directives of Interior Minister. The situation was brought under control and roads were opened for traffic.

Addressing a press conference hours after clash, PPP Karachi division President Saeed Ghani, said that they had given application to the district administration on May 4 to hold rally while PTI approached on May 7 to organize gathering at same venue, adding that PTI was creating unnecessary controversy over the issue.

While alleging MQM for the situation, Ghani said that PTI has inherited some elements from MQM who with PTI activists injured 21 workers of PPP and torched their vehicles, alleging  that PTI is adopting MQM's way of politics which PPP will not allow in the city.

PPP's Shehla Raza said that her party had chosen the venue only after confirming from the city 's administration about its availability on May 12.

However, PTI leader Ali Zaidi in a separate presser alleged PPP leadership for creating the chaos, saying PPP Karachi leadership brought gang war elements  from Lyari and different parts of the city to attack PTI workers, adding that police were supporting them.

Zaidi alleged PPP leader Najmi Alam for provoking his  workers to attack  PTI camp, adding that PPP leader was intoxicated and brought Lyari gang war criminals  to attack on PTI workers.

Later, Zaidi with dozens of PTI activists approached Aziz Bhatti Police Station to lodge FIR against PPP leadership, including its Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah, PPP's Karachi president Saeed Ghani and other leaders. 

Meanwhile,  PPP leaders also reached the police station for registration of FIR against PTI leaders. At the police station, Amir Liaquat Hussain was manhandled by unknown elements.

Firdous Shamim Naqvi, PTI Karachi division president said that he had also phoned PPP leaders including Saeed Ghani a few days ago and took him into confidence over this issue.

While police refused to register complaints of both the parties, saying FIR would be registered after  a proper investigation, PPP and PTI leaders left the Police Station and said to announce future strategy about 12 May rally's venue on Tuesday (today). 

May 12, when the rallies are scheduled to be held, is also observed as ‘black day’ following a series of violent clashes between workers of different political parties in 2007 in the metropolis.