Reddit reviews Instant City: Life and Death in Karachi

I think you make a good point about political front and mafia front. I would suggest a state/non-state binary as well where they, by virtue of being in the state (on a provincial level) use their office to do good and bad things on a non-state level. So, target killing political rivals, gang wars, extortion yes but at the same time they are also the first party to respond to bomb attacks, volunteer the most in their own constituencies, lead the religious processions from the front despite substantial risk to their own lives (for eg, the 10th Muharram and 40th Safar processions of the Twelver Shias) etc. If you get a chance, read Steve Inskeep's 'Instant City' and Laurent Gayer's 'Karachi' for an introductory read on this topic.