The Scotland Yard investigation into the murder in London of the leading Pakistani politician Dr Imran Farooq has been told that rows within his own party may have led to his assassination.
Farooq, 50, was stabbed to death earlier this month during an attack in which he was also beaten near his home in Edgware, north London. Farooq was a senior figure in Pakistan’s MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement) party, and was in exile in London at the time of his death. The murder is being investigated by Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism branch because of the political dimension to the killing.
Sources say intelligence suggests his death was linked to rows within the MQM.
Farooq, once prominent in MQM, had taken a back seat. A senior Pakistani source said he may have been about to endorse or join a new party set up by Pakistan’s former military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf. The source said of the motive: “It lies within the MQM. Dr Farooq was probably going to join Musharraf.”He is vowing to leave his own London exile and return home to launch a fresh bid for power. His new party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, will launch its programme in London later this week.
Asked by the Sunday Telegraph about his reaction to Farooq’s murder, Musharraf said: “It is terrible that such an assassination could happen in a place like London.”
Farooq, who was married with two young sons, claimed UK asylum in 1999 alongside Altaf Hussain, the MQM’s leader. Hussain, who also lives in exile in London, has said “enemies of the MQM” killed Farooq and they will try to kill him. Pakistan’s media reported him as saying on Friday: “Now the enemies of the movement are after my life, but I want to tell them I am not afraid of anyone, whether it’s a superpower like the United States or its Nato allies or their Pakistani agents … I fear the Almighty Allah and will never bow down before the conspirators even if they get my British citizenship rescinded.”
Police in London are still hunting an attacker who, one witness said, appeared to be an Asian man. Analysts say the MQM has longstanding rivalries with ethnic Pashtun and Sindhi parties in Karachi. The MQM has also been riven by occasional internecine violence.
Before entering the UK, Farooq spent seven years on the run in Pakistan from criminal charges while the MQM was engaged in a violent battle for control of Karachi. He remained a key party figure. While MQM leader Hussain is protected by private guards and rarely appears in public following death threats, colleagues said Farooq never believed he was at risk and had played a smaller role in the party since the birth of his sons, now aged five and three.
Farooq was attacked on his way home from his job at a chemist’s shop. He was found near his home after neighbours witnessed what they believed was a fight. Paramedics were called but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
MQM party officials in the party’s stronghold of Karachi declared a 10-day period of mourning. Previous political killings have triggered riots and deadly clashes between rival factions. Police are keeping an open mind as to the identity of Farooq’s killer and their investigation continues.
Agreed with all your opinion I also have the same, but please let me correct Altaf Hussain is not Shia muslim.
Comment by talibehaq — May 26, 2007 @ 11:32 am
This man was a Taxi driver. He only belongs to the Taxis of Chicago.
Comment by Lala Jee — June 9, 2007 @ 11:26 pm
Time this criminal was reported to Amnesty International for his murders and torture cells!
Comment by Shaz — March 6, 2009 @ 7:49 pm
Altaf hussain is a disgraceful person. . …. He has used the mohajir card to gain sympathies of them … and he is now ruling them …
Quaid E Tehreek… shame on him …
Comment by bilal — August 29, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
MQM lost 15000 soldiers in 1992 operation and to be honest i do not know whether he faces any charges of murder or corruption. Today media play a greater role for example, can turn a black into white, dead into life and 0 into hero. I do not trust media until and unless i witness it or reseached on it.
At this moment of time we pakistanis are in trouble and require unity rather than cursing each other perhaps thats the target of our enemies to spread venom among us.
Just to remind you none of our politician excels, for example our present President faces many charges too.
But if these bad lads have transformed into good and doing good for Pakistani then i am quite happy.
We should learn to forget past and move forward with life or else we are getting no where.
there is still time!
Comment by mufeez faiz — February 5, 2010 @ 3:57 am
the real mother fucker MQM …the terrorist organization killer of innocent pakhtoons….
Comment by Ijaz Khan Afridi — July 15, 2011 @ 11:40 am
Since MQM came into being by A Munafik Gen. Zia. Karachi has lost the Peace.
Comment by Saleem — September 1, 2011 @ 11:54 pm
A REAL KUTTI MA KA BACHA. A BASTARD WHO IS SEEING THE DREAMS TO ENTER IN PUNJAB
Comment by ASLAM — September 15, 2011 @ 8:05 pm
I dont agree to ur views. because mqm had lost 1500 ppl on 92 operation. frm 2002 2007 there was a piece in karachi . mqm mayor Mustafa kamal had done a great job . he has turned karachi from mud to dynamic and modern city. look at the infrastructure of karachi today… just tell me one thing that why there was a piece in karachi when these corrupt politicions ppp and pml n was not in govt till 2007.. but now when we have a so called democracy . when corrupt ppp came in a power then again the situation of karachi is going worsen day by day. so first analyse things then give your point of views…
Thanks.
Comment by saquib khan — November 27, 2011 @ 11:44 pm
Kutti ka bacha Altaf Hussain. Harami ke nassal, Altaf Hussain. Altaf Hussain is Shia kafir.
Comment by Fiaz Muhmmad — March 6, 2012 @ 6:24 pm
whatever u write i praise this, he is such a bastard
Comment by Syed Asmat Agha — May 26, 2012 @ 12:55 pm
Mahajar Qumi Movement(mqm) should be ban, they spread hate which is a crime against humanity
Comment by nur — August 22, 2012 @ 7:12 am
MQM IS a terrorist orgnization funded by raw india to destabalized pakistan every action of iltaf is against pakistan & islam all pakistani must know about this anti pakistan movement ALLAH SAVE PAKISTAN from ideas of this non sesce person
Comment by sardar idrees khan — November 8, 2012 @ 11:26 pm
Only one way Karachi goes to peacefull If any governament clean arms from MQM workers and Band all MQM activity in all over Pakistan and stop speach of stupid Altaf hussain through telephone.
and also band PPP and N muslin leage, ANP.
only that can back Pakistan on his feet INSHAALLAH.
Comment by Ali — March 24, 2013 @ 12:16 pm
[…] Altaf Hussain a murdrer […]
Pingback by Article 62 & 63 – Altaf Hussain(MQM) — April 11, 2013 @ 7:33 pm
yeh ghulat ha ye kutti ka bucha nahi ha yeh to suar ka bacha ha.
Comment by aziz — May 13, 2013 @ 1:47 pm
00442072301212
yeh number london metropolitan police ka hai..
call rate= 2.5 rupees per minute..
Please call kr k altaf k khilaf shikayat krein, say this guy is threatening the country, please take action
Ab tak 1400 complaints hue han, please spread the word so we can get rid of the beast altaf. Thanks
Comment by MQM — May 14, 2013 @ 3:12 am
A day will come when altaf hussian will be draged on the streets of karachi and every person will kick his bud and inshallah he shall be hanged
Comment by unknown — May 20, 2013 @ 4:10 pm