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| India-Pakistan |
| PTI, JI poll offices attacked |
| 2013-04-22 |
| [Dawn] With the election campaign by political parties yet to gain momentum amid fears, an election camp and an office of two parties were set on fire on Saturday further adversely affecting the electioneering pace and raising security concerns among contesting candidates, officials and party sources said. In the early hours of the day, an election camp of the Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) in Sector 11-E near UP Mor was ransacked before being set on fire. "The suspects bravely ran away after executing the job," said a police officer. "Area people and party workers said the myrmidons also fired shots into the air though we did not find any sign. More police force has been deployed in the affected part of the area." As the police expressed ignorance about the people and their motive for the arson attack, the PTI leaders said undemocratic forces wanted to keep their party from election campaigning mainly in Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... "We know very well and have the capacity to respond to such cowardly acts," said Jamal Siddiq, the PTI media coordinator. "But we believe in democratic norms which demand policy of co-existence. The camp set on fire was actually a part of PTI Tabdeeli Razakar Camp (camp of volunteers for change) and a large number of Karachi youngsters are turning up at these camps to contribute for the change approaching." In every Karachi town, he said, the PTI had set up at least two such camps where it had registered hundreds of youngsters for "being a part of change". He ruled out any review in the strategy after the arson attack. "Our morale is high and we are determined to continue our peaceful struggle, which has received enormous response from Karachiites. We are not removing any camp in any part of the city," said Mr Siddiqi. While the police were yet to register an FIR of the attack, the 'myrmidons' struck again and this time a Jamaat-e-Islami ... The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... (JI) election camp in Nazimabad was the target. "Early in the morning the JI election office in Nazimabad No 2 was attacked when no one was there," said SSP central Amir Farooqi. "The myrmidons ransacked the office and also tried to set it on fire. The camp office was set up temporarily in a shop that was once used as a barber's shop. The police are busy assessing loss before registering the case," the SSP said. In a statement, the JI condemned the incident and said the caretaker administration seemed powerless to maintain law and order in the city. The situation had raised doubts over peace on polling day, the party said, seeking immediate arrest of the 'myrmidons'. |
| Posted by:Fred |