Bilawal may lose polls in Lyari, says Asad Umar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar on Monday said it was quite possible that Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lose election in Lyari.

“A delegation in a meeting in Karachi apprised me that there was so much anguish against the PPP in Lyari that it isn’t impossible that Bilawal lose his seat in the constituency,” he said while talking to media in the metropolis.

He, however, condemned the incident of hurling stones towards Bilawal’s convoy.

“This is not a good precedent. We believe that this should not happen. The real power that a citizen wields is the power of vote, not the power of stone. I would like to appeal from you to utilise the power of vote on the day of election,” he said.

Police have booked 413 people for allegedly disrupting Bilawal’s election rally in the party stronghold Lyari by stone-pelting.

Read More: PPP demands adequate security for Bilawal

The PPP chairman on Sunday visited Lyari to kick off the party’s campaign in the impoverished neighborhood, which historically remained the party’s stronghold.

He is contesting the upcoming general election for the first time from three National Assembly constituencies including NA-246 of Lyari.

To a query, Asad Umar said under the prevailing circumstances, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif could take any grave step.

“I believe that, under the prevalent circumstances, Nawaz might boycott the elections 2018. He can take any desperate action, which, I think, is his political and democratic right. While, as far as our strategy is concerned, neither we are waiting for their boycott, nor we will have any trouble by their not boycotting,” he said.