Karachi's antiterrorism court has placed two men in police custody until Aug 11 following a violent clash between rival MQM-P factions at the party's Bahadurabad headquarters. The ruling came Saturday as investigators sought time to interrogate the detained workers over the Aug 2 incident, which involved firing that unsettled nearby residents. Main Developments Suspects Zeeshan Habib and Azhar alias Lamba appeared before the administrative judge of the antiterrorism courts, where police requested extended custody for questioning. Their lawyer, Advocate Hassan Sabir, challenged the application of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, arguing the offenses do not meet the threshold for terror charges. He also noted both men suffer from health issues requiring urgent care. Read also: Another activist killed in Bajaur as violence persists The investigating officer countered that the clash at the party headquarters on Aug 2 involved gunfire, creating fear and insecurity among neighborhood residents. After reviewing the record and hearing both sides, the judge granted physical remand till Aug 11 and ordered the IO to submit a progress report at the next hearing. Background New Town police registered the case under Sections 324 (attempted murder) and 188 (disobedience to official orders) of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The FIR names the two detained suspects along with 20–25 unidentified individuals, reflecting the scale of the confrontation. This incident is the latest in a pattern of intra-party violence that has periodically disrupted Karachi's political landscape. MQM-P, a key political force in the city, has faced internal rifts that occasionally spill into public clashes. Why It Matters The case tests the boundaries of Pakistan's anti-terror legislation in politically motivated violence, with defense lawyers arguing the charges are overreaching. For residents near Bahadurabad, the ruling underscores concerns about safety when factional disputes turn violent. The court's decision on whether the ATA applies could set a precedent for similar cases involving political party clashes. What's Next Both suspects will remain in police custody until Aug 11, when they are due back in court. The investigating officer must present a progress report on the interrogation. Legal arguments over the ATA's applicability are likely to continue, with the defense pushing for the charges to be downgraded to ordinary criminal offenses.