KAR ACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement continued to trade allegations as electioneering for a National Assembly (NA-246) seat gained momentum on Tuesday.

The PTI inaugurated its election camp at Karimabad and held a press conference in which the local leader demanded that the government seal the Nine Zero, the Karachi residence of MQM chief Altaf Hussain, for a peaceful environment in the district.

The MQM also held a press conference and condemned the PTI for persistently provokingpeople to cover up its failure to garner any support in the constituency.

In a related development, the Sindh government filled the vacant post of the deputy commissioner of Karachi central district.

Imran to visit constituency on Thursday Imran Ismail, the PTI candidate on NA-246, told the press conference that Mr Khan would spend his entire day on Thursday in the constituency.

He said that the cricketer-turned-politician was due to arrive in the province on Wednesday (today)and afterspending one dayin other districts he would be in Karachi on the morning of April 9.`He would spend Thursday with the people of NA-246,` he said. `We appeal to the people of Karachi to shed their fears and come out of their homes to vote for the PTI on April 23. We also warn the MQM and their workers that if any of our activists are attacked during the campaign we would lodge a case against their leader Altaf Hussain.

The head of PTPs media affairs, Faisal Vawda, said on the occasion that the MQM chief was wanted and the government should request for the issuance of his red warrant so he could be brought back from London to face the law.

`The so-called headquarters of the MQM Nine Zero is the property of Altaf Hussain fromwhere convicted and wanted criminals have been arrested. The government must seal that place for a peaceful environment in the district,` he added.

`PTI is provoking people to run away from election` Reacting to the press conference of the PTI leaders, MQM leaders Haider Abbas Rizvi and Syed Faisal Subzwari said that the PTI was in a state of shock since it was getting no voters or even polling agents in the constituency.

`We want transparent and impartial election and we demand that the election commission ensure the rule of law,` said Mr Rizvi. `Thesurety of the PTI candidate would be forfeited on April 23 [polling day],` he said.

Without naming Mr Vawda, Mr Subzwari said that `a minion of the PTI who himself is a bank defaulter` demanded forfeiture of Mr Hussain`s house in Azizabad. `The election commission should take notice of the language used against the MQM chief which is hurting the sentiments of the public and people living in the NA-246 constituency.

Mr Rizvi said on the occasion that the MQM could respond to every provocation but it chose not to do so, as `we know the PTI wants to provoke people so that it could run away from the election process`.

He appealed to the people to remain peaceful and united and vote in maximum numbers for MQM candidate KanwarNaveed Jameel on April 23.

New DC for Karachi central district The Sindh government notified on Tuesday the appoint-ment of Afzal Zaidi as deputy commissioner of Karachi central district.

The post had been lying vacant for a month after the transfer of former DC Dr Syed Saifur Rehman to Balochistan.Officials said that vacant posts could be filled in an area or district even after the announcement of the election schedule and the election commission had not banned such appointments during elections.