Mr. Hussain, who has been living in London for over two decades, faces cases in Britain.

At the semi-dark basement of a house in Gulshan area, Karachi, a group of people were holding a late-night meeting last week. They said it was a shadow committee appointed by Altaf Hussain, the self-exiled leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the largest party in Karachi. The discussion went on till the wee hours. They were seen at ease despite the formation of at least two breakaway factions of the party last year and a government crackdown. “It is a mere eye-wash to evade the pressure [from the government],” the leader of the group told The Hindu requesting anonymity for fear of a raid on this hideout or arrest of the shadow committee.

The party, which largely represents the Mohajir community — the Urdu-speaking Muslims who migrated from India to Pakistan — enjoyed enormous power and influence in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, for over three decades. It operated almost like a mafia group by extorting money from the wealthy, putting pressure on the central government for its own benefits, and dictating the media on coverage of the party and its leaders. But now, its headquarters, called Nine Zero, in Azizabad remains locked since September last year. Amid rising targeted killings, extortions and other criminal activities, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered the paramilitary forces in Karachi to launch a crackdown in 2012. Hundreds of MQM activists have been picked up and tried ever since. Courts provided little relief for the MQM as several of its activists were kept in secret detention centres.

Mr. Hussain, who has been living in London for over two decades, faces cases in Britain. The U.K. authorities have so far shelved a money laundering case against the MQM leader on the request of the Pakistani government. Another allegation that Mr. Hussain is involved in the killing of his close aide Imran Farooq is still under investigation.

Moreover, the party is divided into three factions. The MQM Pakistan was formed late last year after Mr. Hussain incited workers in Karachi to attack the TV stations that criticise the party. MQM’s parliamentary leader Farooq Sattar announced disassociation with Mr. Hussain. But even Mr. Sattar’s faction is not entirely united. At a recent meeting of its MPs, three leaders were asked if they are taking orders from the London leadership and were warned that they would be stripped of their seats. Such is the level of mistrust.

Another faction led by Mustafa Kamal, MQM’s former Mayor of Karachi, formed a political outfit, Pak Sarzameen Party, last year, and chose the national flag as their election symbol. Many in Karachi believe the PSP was backed by the paramilitary forces. Mr. Kamal had left MQM three years ago after differences with the leader and went abroad.

Request to India

Last week, Mr. Hussain was back in the news for requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help the Mohajirs. The statement received widespread condemnation. But Wasay Jalil, a close aide of Mr. Hussain in London, said it was just “Altaf Bhai's shikwa (complaint)” for Mr. Modi that when he could raise voice on the atrocities on the Baloch people, then why couldn’t he raise voice for the Mohajirs?

With elections scheduled for next year, many raise questions about the future of the MQM, given its current predicament. But people in Karachi remain loyal to the party and, to some extent, to Mr. Hussain. The leader of the shadow committee that met at the Gulshan home basement is confident. “Just before the general elections, you will see the resurgence of the party as the people will only vote in the name of Altaf Hussain,” he said.