PTI, PPP rallies heighten tension in Pakistan’s Mirpurkhas

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Charged workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf gathered at main squares and roundabouts in several Sindh towns on Monday to resume their protest against the installation of ‘imported government’ at Centre while jubilant activists of Pakistan Peoples Party staged rallies to celebrate success of no-trust motion and election of new prime minister.

In Mirpurkhas, police averted a clash between workers of the two parties, when they came close to each other and were on the brink of launching into a fully-fledged brawl at Post Office Chowk on Sunday night.

Hundreds of workers and local leaders of PTI, including Aftab Qureshi and Mumtaz Ali Shah arrived at the Chowk in big processions to stage protest over removal of Imran Khan while PPP workers also reached there to celebrate victory of the opposition in no-trust motion.

As the two sides came face to face with each other they raised slogans in support of their leaders and traded allegations, which tensed the situation and made it highly explosive.

The two sides were working up rage as PTI kept shouting charged slogans against opposition parties’ leaders while PPP workers danced to the tune of party anthems to taunt their rivals, when heavy contingents of police moved in to separate the rival workers and dispersed them to avert a possible clash.

Later, personnel of Rangers were also deployed at the chowk and other significant places to maintain peace in the city.

In Jhuddo town, PPP workers took out a procession on Sunday night in the wake of the no-trust move. They danced at main roundabouts of the town to the tune of the party anthems. (Dawn)