Which groups were involved in ethnic violence in Karachi during the late 20th century?

During the final quarter of the 20th century, Karachi experienced significant ethnic violence driven by tensions between various groups competing for political and economic influence.12

The primary groups involved in this conflict included:

• Native Sindhis: The indigenous population of the region, who felt marginalized by the perceived monopoly of power held by immigrant communities.12
• Muhajirs: Muslim immigrants who arrived from India following the 1947 partition. The formation of the Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the mid-1980s became a focal point for the community and a catalyst for intensified clashes with other groups.2
• Pashtuns: Migrants from the northern frontier regions, including Afghan Pashtuns, whose arrival in the city added further complexity and competition to the existing ethnic landscape.12

This period of instability was exacerbated by the failure to foster a cohesive civil society and integrate these diverse populations, leading to widespread lawlessness that eventually necessitated military intervention by the government.12