KARACHI, May 25: Thousands of workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement converged on the Karachi Press Club on Friday night to stage what was described by the MQM as a spontaneous outpouring of public support for Altaf Hussain who has lately been bitterly criticised by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan for his alleged role in the May 12 violence.

According to a press statement issued by the MQM international secretariat in London, Mr Khan’s interview with a private television channel, in which he reportedly made uncharitable remarks against Mr Hussain, caused the MQM workers to see red. It adds that the MQM headquarters has received thousands of phone calls from concerned activists.

The MQM statement accuses Mr Khan of being a former “playboy”.

Mr Khan has made a string of statements against Mr Hussain and vowed to take the latter to court in London over his alleged role in the May 12 violence in Karachi.

Activists of the women wing of the MQM also took part in the demonstration and chanted slogans against the former cricket captain. They said Mr Khan should be ashamed of making spiteful statements against the MQM chief, who was far more popular than the chief of the Tehrik-i-Insaf.

National Assembly member Haider Abbas Rizvi and provincial minister Shoaib Bukhari took part in the demonstration.