KARACHI: At least four people were injured as a scuffle and chaos marred a meeting of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) at the party’s headquarters in Bahadurabad near Char Minar on Sunday evening.

According to party officials, the clash broke out between supporters of two rival groups within the party.

A police officer, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that police were present at the scene and the situation was under control. He added that, so far, no one had approached the New Town police to lodge a complaint.

The official added that police contingents had rushed to the scene to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Another police official told Dawn that at around 7:20pm, an MQM-P meeting was underway at the party’s temporary headquarters in Bahadurabad, where senior leaders were present.

He said the situation escalated after Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui left the meeting, with a scuffle breaking out between workers belonging to groups led by Anis Qaimkhani and Mustafa Kamal, and those supporting Dr Siddiqui and Aminul Haque. It was not clear what led to the scuffle between the two groups.

According to the official, workers from the Qaimkhani group allegedly assaulted members of the Siddiqui group and forcibly removed them from the party’s headquarters. Later, Siddiqui group workers gathered at a nearby park.

The official said heavy firing was also reported from inside the party headquarters, causing fear and panic in the area.

One person, identified as Amir Ali, 40, sustained a bullet injury and was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Later, Farooq Sattar, Ali Khursheedi and Haque arrived at the park and asked the workers to come for a press conference, which did not take place, the police officer added.

At around 10pm, the leaders left the party headquarters and the workers also dispersed.

Police remained present at the site, but no arrests were made, the official added.

Meanwhile, police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said one person with a firearm injury and three others injured by sticks and stones were brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital from Bahadurabad.

She added that the person with the firearm injury, who had wounds on his arm and chest, was later shifted to a private hospital.

In a post on X, Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed said: “They set out to divide Sindh, but failed to keep their own house in order.”

“Those who sought to divide others have themselves splintered into factions today. The people have once again given a fitting response to those who pursued the politics of hatred against Sindh’s unity,” Javed said.

“Every dream of dividing Sindh was buried before, and it has been buried once again today. Sindh was united, Sindh is united and Sindh will remain united.”