Violence erupts at MQM-P office as rival factions clash

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MQM-P workers gather in front of the party head office in Bahadurabad.—Dawn
MQM-P workers gather in front of the party head office in Bahadurabad.—Dawn

KARACHI: Two groups of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan clashed with each other during a meeting at the party’s Bahadurabad headquarters on Sunday evening, causing bullet injuries to one of the workers, witnesses and officials said.

The MQM-P has been facing internal rifts for the past many months as the party has been split between groups led by Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Syed Mustafa Kamal / Anis Qaimkhani. Both factions have been holding their separate events and meetings.

On Sunday, Dr Siddiqui-led group held a meeting at the party’s temporary headquarters in Bahadurabad where first a scuffle broke out between supporters of both factions.

Videos that went viral on social media showed unknown persons firing into the air outside the Bahadurabad headquarters. In other videos, a large number of workers were trying to storm the headquarters but were pushed away by their seniors.

One suffers firearm injuries, three others hit by stones

Supporters of Dr Siddiqui-led faction alleged that it was Mr Qaimkhani’s loyalists who stormed the venue of the meeting and attacked them. They said that they subjected some senior leaders, including women, to a physical assault.

A police officer, who wished not to be named, told Dawn as soon as party chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui left the meeting, supporters of Kamal-Qaimkhani group allegedly beat and threw out their rivals from the party headquarters.

He said that Dr Siddiqui’s supporters took refuge in a nearby park. In the meantime, heavy firing was reported from inside the party office, triggering fear and panic in the area, he added

The officer said that one person, identified as Amir Ali, 40, suffered bullet wounds and was rushed to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said that the man was shot in the arm and chest. He was later moved to a private hospital. She said three others who suffered injuries from sticks and stones were brought to the ASH from Bahadurabad.

Another officer said it was being probed as to what caused the in-fighting. He said contingents of police rushed to the spot to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

“The situation is under control now,” the officer said, adding that so far, no one has approached the police station concerned for lodging any complaint.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2026

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