Tension is touching sky high before Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Multan Jalsa. Violent clashes erupted between PTI and PMLN workers after some PMLN workers tried to attack Sheikh Rasheed.
Sheikh Rasheed was due to hold a press conference at Multan Press Club when some PMLN members holding “Go Imran GO” play cards, attacked the hotel where he was staying. Sheikh Rasheed said the attackers were well known dacoits of Multan hired by PMLN.
Some of the protesters tried to enter the hotel where Mr. Rasheed was staying but they could not succeed.
After some time, a large number of PTI workers reached the scene, forcing PMLN workers to flee that area. Afterwards, PTI workers staged a brief sit-in in that area and chanted Go Nawaz Go slogans.
The incident occurred in NA-149 constituency where by-election is going to be held on October 15th. Javed Hashmi, former member of PTI, is contesting by-election from this constituency as an independent candidate. He is supported by PMLN while PTI is supporting Amir Dogar who is also contesting as an independent candidate.
According to reporters, many of the attackers were present at Javed Hashmi’s residence last night when he was holding a press conference.
Vice Chairman of Tehreek-e-Insaf, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, deplored the attitude of PMLN and appealed PTI workers to remain calm. “I urge all workers to remain clam and prepare to give a warm welcome to Imran Khan in Multan”, he said.
“We are winning the political battle”, said a confident Shah Mehmood.
Earlier, Sheikh Rasheed was due to hold a press conference at 5:00 PM but it got delayed for two hours due to these clashes.
During his press conference Sheikh Rasheed said that he appreciated media’s role in exposing PMLN dacoits. “These dacoits are well known in Multan and they came with the support of Punjab Police”, he alleged .
Sheikh Rasheed further said that he was saddened to know about Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s tweet in which she appreciated the cowardly attack on him.
Soon after attack on Sheikh Rasheed, Maryam Nawaz Sharif took to twitter and tweeted her satisfaction over this attack on him. “Imran Khan will fear coming out of his container from now on”, she said.
