Re: the MQM
However unfortunate, history when political violence (on the basis of ethnicity) started in Karachi was after the victory of Ayub Khan in rigged election of 1965.
It is unfortunate but true that the person that started differences on basis of ethnicity and violence in Karachi politics was Ayub Khan. When he won the rigged election in 1965 (against Fatima Jinnah), just to celebrate his victory, he brought many supporters from NWFP to Karachi and in the name of victory celebration started violence in the city, killing and injuring many innocents. The ethnicity element in his celebration victory was obvious, as even though his victory was not due to one ethnicity or another (rather most in Karachi at the time never even cared about ethnicity), unfortunately people he used for celebration was Pathans especially came to Karachi for that celebration, and most he victimised were innocent people of Karachi (mostly Muhajir).
I believe (that is what I know) the above event was first event, when Pakistan saw violence not in the name of religion but in the name of ethnic difference. I can only hope and pray that a time comes when people of Pakistan learn to live together as one nation, without any feeling of differences on basis of ethnicity or even religion. Who knows, maybe ‘Muhajir Quami Movement’ changing its name into ‘Mutahida Quami Movement’ is the start of that era, only time can tell. I can only hope but anything can happen if Alalh wills.