Karachi: Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's visit to Pakistan's Sindh province today as part of an election campaign was marred by scuffles and indiscipline among party workers.
Khan was forced to depart the Hyderabad airport from another exit after angry supporters engaged in a scuffle and shouted slogans against the party's Sindh president Nadir Leghari.
In Karachi, Khan even had to apologise to the media over the rude behaviour of party workers after journalists staged a walk-out from his press conference alleging that only certain media persons were allowed by the party.
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief was in Karachi to campaign for party candidate Imran Ismail, who is contesting a by-poll from a constituency considered stronghold of the Mutthaida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
There had been a series of clashes of between PTI and MQM workers in the run-up to the election on April 23.
"Win or lose does not matter, what does matter is this election is symbolic of the changing times in Pakistan. The change came when our candidate and workers visited Jinnah ground and other parts of the NA-246 constituency," Khan later told a press conference.
He said the PTI was taking part in the election to end the siege of Karachi by a culture of fear and violence.
"We want to change the mentality of the people and bring peace to Karachi," Khan said.
Khan is due to visit Azizabad tomorrow, another MQM stronghold.
PTI is also planning to hold a public rally at the symbolic Jinnah ground on April 19.
