Just weeks after the creation of Pakistan, the country’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, faced threats not only from political instability and communal turmoil, but also from conspiracies that aimed at his very life. One of the most controversial and rarely discussed of these is known as the Shikarpur Colony Conspiracy Case, in which members of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and associated individuals were accused of plotting a bomb explosion in Karachi. The case reveals the dangers surrounding newly-created Pakistan, and the deep-seated suspicions and tensions during Partition.
The Incident: What the Records Say
According to official and journalistic sources:
- On 10 September 1947, a bomb blast occurred at a house in Shikarpur Colony, Karachi. The house belonged to R.B. Totaram, an RSS activist.
- The bomb was being made inside a first-floor room of the house. The explosion killed one person, and injured or endangered others.
- Police investigations found explosives, ammunition, RSS literature, secret meeting records, and documents suggesting a wider conspiracy.
The Conspiracy Allegation: Assassination Attempt
- The case against those involved in the blast was not limited to accidental detonation. Prosecutors framed the legal action as part of a conspiracy to assassinate prominent leaders of the nascent Pakistani government — including Jinnah, then-Governor-General; Liaquat Ali Khan (Prime Minister); Khwaja Nazimuddin; and other senior Muslim League officials.
- A special tribunal was constituted under Sindh legislation to try those accused.
Legal Outcomes & Dormant Files
- In the tribunal held on 17 September 1948, 15 persons were convicted; 4 were acquitted; and several others, described as absconders, were not tried at the time. L. K. Advani, a prominent RSS leader, was among those whose case was reported to have been placed in a dormant file.
- Investigations into證 the case were reopened in 2002 by Pakistani authorities, who examined old records from the Sindh High Court and other departments for connections implicating Advani and others.
What Is Known vs What Remains Unclear
While there is substantial documentary basis for the incident and the charges brought, several aspects remain contested or unverified:
| Aspect | What records show | What is uncertain or disputed |
|---|---|---|
| Existence of plot | The bomb blast; discovery of explosives; tribunal case. | Whether there was a fully developed plan to assassinate Jinnah specifically, or whether this was part of a broader conspiracy against Muslim League leadership. |
| Involvement of specific individuals (e.g. Advani) | Records list Advani’s name among absconding accused; some sources claim his involvement. | No universally accepted proof that Advani personally participated in the bomb-making; he was never tried in absentia. |
| Scope and intent | The tribunal charged that several Muslim League leaders were intended targets. | Whether timing/location of the planned attack were precise; whether Jinnah’s presence was known to conspirators, or if it was a hypothetical target among others. |
| Degree of RSS organizational involvement | Discovery of RSS literature and secret meetings suggests some involvement. | Unclear how much direction or approval came from central RSS leadership vs local activists. |
Significance in Historical Perspective
- The Perils Faced by Founding Leadership
The case illustrates that Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s leadership was under serious threat in the early days of Pakistan. Beyond political challenges and communal unrest, there were plots involving explosives and organized groups. - Communal Tensions and Radicalization
The environment in Sindh, particularly Karachi, saw the intensification of communal identities in the years immediately before and after Partition. RSS activities in Sindh, as well as the Muslim League’s mobilization, combined with fears on both sides about safety and survival. - Challenges of Post-Partition Justice
Many accused were never tried; files went dormant. The case also shows how new state institutions had difficulty immediately prosecuting alleged crimes committed during the chaos of Partition. - Memory, Politics, and Historical Narratives
The Shikarpur case has occasionally been invoked in political discourse, particularly in Pakistan, to question RSS’s past role. Conversely, critics have raised concerns over the quality of evidence, procedural irregularities, and whether political motives colored how the accusations have been maintained over decades.
The Shikarpur Colony Conspiracy Case stands as a striking example of the kinds of danger and chaos surrounding Pakistan’s birth as a nation. While there is credible evidence that a bomb was being manufactured in Karachi in 1947, and that the authorities saw it as part of a conspiracy implicating senior leaders, the precise nature of the plot — especially whether it was explicitly to assassinate Muhammad Ali Jinnah — remains a matter of partial record, some hearsay, and ongoing debate.
What is clear is that the case underscores how fragile the early days of Pakistan were, and how founding figures like Jinnah operated under severe threat — threats not all of which are fully documented or understood even today.
