Islamabad, Aug 24 (IANS): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has told a provincial minister, who asked Interior Minister Rehman Malik not to make frequent visits to violence-hit Karachi, that he should avoid making remarks against party colleagues.

Zardari summoned Sindh Senior Minister Zulfiqar Mirza to Islamabad and told him to desist from issuing statements against party colleagues, sources told Dawn Tuesday.

During a cabinet meeting in Sindh, Mirza became angry and told 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 Malik for his repeated trips to Karachi. He also told him not to return to Karachi for the next 15 days.

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

Sources said Zardari expressed his annoyance over the provincial ministers remarks and told him that such actions were damaging the image of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Zardari had summoned Mirza July 14 when he made controversial remarks against the Urdu-speaking people that triggered a wave of violence in Karachi.

The president then barred him from making political statements.