Karachi (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) are now openly at loggerheads with both sides announcing street demonstrations and leaders in the two parties attacking each other.
Tensions have worsened over the weekend after partial results from a rerun election in Karachi appears to give the PTI, which is led by former cricketer Imran Khan, a seat in what is a MQM stronghold. This comes after a PTI leader, Zahra Shahid Hussain, was gunned down in the city on Saturday, further widening the rift between the two parties in the southern province of Sindh.
Yesterday's vote was a repeat of the 11 May election that saw the victory of Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after voting irregularities were reported in the port city.
Early results suggest that the PTI should take the riding. The MQM had won 16 of Karachi's 19 seats but decided to boycott the rerun because it was held in 43 of the area's 200 polling stations, a decision that helped its rival.
If the outcome were confirmed, it would be the PTI's only National Assembly seat from Sindh. The party had already won two seats in the provincial assembly.
Yesterday's poll was marred by the murder of Sindh PTI Deputy President Zahra Shahid Hussain on Saturday by unknown gunmen outside of her home.
Khan blamed her death on MQM leader Altaf Hussain, who rejected the accusations as an attempt to slander his party and leadership.
On both sides, protests have been announced. In Hyderabad, MQM supporters have already taken to the streets. Last night, a PTI counter-demonstration took place in Karachi with Imran Khan present.
Police forces are on high alert for fear of further violence and killings.
