Well if we want to see Pakistan progressing and our GDP 7% than we'll have to strike peace with the party ruling in Karachi. A party that has won by over-whelming vote bank. If peace disrupts in karachi, the whole country is bound to suffer.
I must give credit to political maturity of MQM and PPP to strike peace with each others. Also, Zardari knows that Nawaz will back-out any moment, therefore keep MQM's 20 votes in his plate.
Anyway, I appreciate the work that has been done by MQM city nazim in KHI and believe me, we've progressed fasted than developed nations! I really love Karachi now. And, I also appreciate the development work done in Lahore and Islamabad.
Coming back to the question, I think MQM doesn't need too much income....they don't own above 1600 c.c cars not their bunglows are in posh areas. 90 itself is a very small house and all their members live modestly. Even the city nazim till now used to live in a rented house (nowadays in govt housing). MQM do not have feudals not business men in their lines, and they don't spend much on their politicking. Their voters are fixed, including people who hate Nawaz and PPP for their operation clean-up (extra-judical killings)
Yes, till few years back.... bhatta khori was also source of their income..... now I learned from big businessmen, that MQM has stopped taking bhatta forcefully.... maybe earning from some ministeries (shipping etc)
But, the collaboration is ALOT better, The I.I chundigar road, has been made by funds given by businessmen and City Nazim re-build it for them. Similarly, many other small projects have been funded by big conglomerates and the city nazim progressed work on it. The motorbikes of police were given by some businessmen.
The bottom line is: Even if these politicians (MQM, PPP, PML-Q, PML-N, etc) keep 50% of the development funds in their pockets.... just complete that damn project for the public!