Islamabad, Aug 23 : President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned a provincial minister who lost his cool and told Interior Minister Rehman Malik not to frequently visit violence-hit Karachi. Malik retorted he won't visit the port city, if that's what the minister wanted.

Zardari Tuesday summoned Sindh Senior Minister Zulfiqar Mirza to Islamabad, reported Geo News.

During the Sindh cabinet meeting, Zulfikar Mirza became angry and told Rehman Malik to stay in Islamabad and leave Karachi to the provincial setup.

Violence over the past few weeks in Karachi has left over 300 people dead. At least 11 people, including six policemen, were killed Saturday. The latest wave of violence gripped the city after Pakistan People's Party former lawmaker Ahmed Karimdad was killed in the Lyari area Aug 17.

Mirza criticised Rehman Malik for his repeated trips to Karachi. He also told him not to return to Karachi for the next fifteen days.

Rehman Malik said that he would not come Karachi, if that's what Mirza wanted.

Mirza made it clear that it was the Sindh government's responsibility to maintain law and order in Karachi and that Rehman Malik should not be interfering in provincial matters.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Zardari summoned Zulfiqar Mirza to Islamabad.(IANS)