Karachi: An armed confrontation at the MQM Bahadurabad headquarters left one party worker injured by gunfire, prompting a statement from MQM Chairman Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.
Khalid Maqbool said the incident occurred due to a misunderstanding and verbal altercation between party workers. He added that the party leadership had reviewed the situation and that conditions were now improving.
According to reports, a dispute between supporters of Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Mustafa Kamal escalated into a violent clash, forcing the closure of the Bahadurabad headquarters. During the confrontation, a worker identified as Amir, reportedly from Liaquatabad, sustained a gunshot injury.
The incident reportedly began while Khalid Maqbool's group was holding a meeting regarding Independence Day celebrations. Members of the Mustafa Kamal group, led by Anees Qaimkhani, arrived at the headquarters to hold a separate meeting. Attempts by party officials to stop them allegedly led to violence, including gunfire and physical clashes. During the scuffle, senior MQM leader Ameen-ul-Haque's clothes were reportedly torn.
The confrontation reportedly took place inside the Rabita Committee room, where chairs were thrown at one another and the DVR surveillance system was damaged. Some workers allegedly took the DVR equipment with them.
Following the clash, the Bahadurabad headquarters was locked down, while police and Rangers personnel were deployed around the premises.
MQM MPA Ijaz-ul-Haq alleged that Anees Qaimkhani slapped him inside the room. Another party worker, Zakir Hussain, was reportedly assaulted and injured by MPA Farhan Ansari and others. According to reports, some participants shouted, "They belong to the London group—beat them."
Reacting to the incident, Sindh government spokesperson Saadia Javed criticized the party, saying those who sought to divide Sindh had failed to manage their own internal affairs and had themselves become divided into factions.
