It all started on August 22 with Bhai’s provocative and controversial speech. In a fit of rage, Bhai crossed all moral and legal boundaries by using foul language against the Pakistani state and inciting his supporters to violence, causing a nationwide pandemonium. The ensuing unrest in Karachi, which sent parts of the city into high alert, and the attack on a media house, caused further public outrage.

By throwing caution to the wind, Bhai pushed the MQM’s local leadership into a corner where it not only refused to defend him but also categorically distanced itself from the content of the speech vowing not to allow him the party platform for such speeches in the future. Later, in a press conference, the MQM leadership also announced it would run the party affairs from Karachi instead of London and take decisions independently.

This sudden development took place amid a critical social, political, and security transition that Karachi is going through. The city, which has reeled from multiple forms of ethno-political, criminal, and extremist violence for the last several years, is trying to get back on its feet amidst a reshaped environment and redefined rules of engagement.

… The writer is an associate research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore.