The MQM today accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan of turning Karachi into a battlefield after the May 11 general elections, as the war of words between the two political parties intensified.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Asif Hasnain who has won a National Assembly seat in the elections said that Imran had offended MQM supporters by accusing their chief Altaf Hussain of killing a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf leader.
"Imran should have shown more maturity before making such a statement. It angered our workers," Hasnain said at a protest rally held by the MQM outside the Karachi Press Club.
"I hold (MQM leader) Altaf Hussain directly responsible for the murder as he openly threatened PTI workers and leaders through public broadcasts," Imran had said after PTI leader Zahra Shahid Hussain was shot dead outside her residence here by three unknown gunmen.
Police said they are still trying to find out the motive behind the killing.
Hundreds of MQM supporters took part in the protest rally and raised slogans against Imran.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf also held a protest rally outside the Quaid's mausoleum which was addressed by Arif Alvi, who won the National Assembly seat in the NA-250 constituency where re-polling was held at 43 stations yesterday.
Alvi, who defeated MQM candidate Khushbakht Shujaat by a big margin, said that until free and fair re-elections were held throughout Karachi, the PTI would not rest and continue to hold rallies and sit-ins.
He said the murder of Zahra Shahid was an example of how in the past years Karachi had been turned into a lawless city.
Aleema Khan, the sister of Imran, told the rally that the sacrifice of Zahra would not go waste and the party workers must stand united to face any challenge in Karachi including threats and violence.
The two parties also held rallies against each other in other cities of the country and more such rallies were planned for this week.
