KARACHI: The city administration imposed Section 144 in district Central hours before a rally announced by the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, better known as Haqiqi 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.”

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2025