KARACHI: The city administration imposed Section 144 in district Central hours before a rally announced by the Mohajir Q aumi Movement, better known as Haqigi or MQM-H, against growing fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles.

In a notification, Karachi Commissioner office said that the `ban is necessary to maintain peace and prevent further escalation following arson attacks in the district and attempts to damage the fast food outlets`.

Reacting to the ban, MQM-H chief Afaq Ahmed blamed the PPP for thwarting his peaceful protest through administrative move and arrest of number of its workers.

Speaking at a press conference at his residence he called it a`pre-planned conspiracy` that the protest call which was extended against deaths of innocent citizens was given an ethnic colour.

The MQM-H, he said, had appealed to all ethnic communities in the city for a peaceful protest, as everyone living here has been affected by `the corruption of the PPP that led to failure of this traffic system as well`.

`Our movement is not a one-day effort, but a continuous struggle. Due to the support our stance has received, a nexus between MQM-P and PPP has come to light. Attempts are being made to sabotage this support by portraying it as an effort to spark ethnic riots.`-Staff Reporter