Govt registers Imran Farooq murder case against MQM chief Altaf Hussain

ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan on Saturday registered the case of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Imran Farooq's murder in Pakistan against MQM chief, Altaf Hussain, and other leaders of the party.

Among others nominated in the case are MQM senior leader Mohammad Anwar, Iftikhar Hussain, who is said to be a close aide of the MQM chief, and suspects Muazzam Ali Khan, Kashif Khan Kamran, Mohsin Ali Syed and Khalid Shamim.

The case was filed by Federal Investigation Authority's (FIA) counter-terrorism wing in Islamabad under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

Also read: MQM condemns registration of case against Altaf Hussain

The development comes days after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan announced that the FIR of the Dr. Imran Farooq murder case would be registered in Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Nisar said MQM leader Imran Farooq was a Pakistani national and it was the responsibility of the state of Pakistan to bring his killers to court. He said all evidence and investigations concerning the high-profile murder case had been exchanged with Scotland Yard and that, after the registration of the FIR, it would be decided how to extend the investigation process to other facilitators.

Dr Farooq, a prominent member of the MQM was murdered in 2010 outside his residence in London as a result of multiple stabs and a blow to his head.

The former MQM leader was twice elected an MP in Pakistan, but went into hiding in 1992 when the government ordered a military crackdown against party activists in Karachi. He later claimed asylum in Britain in 1999.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain has also been living in self-imposed exile in Britain for over two decades.

Scotland Yard

Meanwhile, Geo News has learnt that Scotland Yard in London had prior knowledge about the Pakistani government’s intention to register Dr. Imran Farooq’s murder case in Pakistan.

The original murder case in London has two main accused, Mohsin Ali Syed and Kashif Khan Kamran.

While the Scotland Yard has interviewed multiple people in connection with the murder under-caution, its investigation only includes the two main accused.

Scotland Yard has not officially asked Pakistan to hand over the two accused but it is possible that the request may come soon.