KARACHI, May 12: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said on Sunday that his party was being pushed against the wall, warning that the establishment would be responsible for any unfortunate development in Karachi.

In a telephonic address from London to MQM’s workers and supporters gathered at the party’s headquarters to celebrate victory of its candidates in Saturday’s elections, Mr Hussain said “the establishment is playing with fire”.

He rejected allegations that his party was involved in rigging of elections, saying that people of different ethnic backgrounds who believed in his philosophy could not be involved in criminal activities.

The MQM chief was unhappy over the media coverage being given to a protest sit-in at Teen Talwar in Clifton by workers and supporters of Imran Khan’s Tehreek-i-Insaf against alleged rigging in Saturday’s elections in Karachi.

He said some biased elements in television channels were trying to highlight what he called “a protest of a few people”. He accused the media of ignoring demonstrations organised by the MQM in Dolly Khata and other parts of Karachi which were attended by thousands of people.

Mr Hussain said PTI’s people were accusing the MQM of carrying out rigging in Karachi, but they were not telling what had happened with their party in Punjab. Instead of levelling allegations, the PTI should produce evidences if there was rigging, he added.

He urged the rulers and the establishment to cede Karachi from Pakistan if they did not like the city and the mandate of its people. He asked the people to get ready because the MQM leadership was going to give a call for a protest in a day or two.