KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain on early hours of Tuesday gave an ultimatum to the president and the prime minister to impede violence in Karachi within next 48 hours, DawnNews reported.

In a press statement issued from London, Hussain also threatened the government of strong public retaliation if the deadline expires without obtaining desired results.

People would take on the task of defending their lives and belongings by taking the law into their own hands, the statement said.

Hussain said he tried everything possible within his powers to help stop target killings and violence in the city but his efforts were appeared to be going in vane.

He warned President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, that the government would be the sole responsible for repercussions if peace was not restored in the Sindh capital.