Federal minister alleges that party founder ordered murder while intoxicated; The case still haunts the MQM politician
Mustafa Kamal says Indian spy agency has been spending money to destroy Karachi for the last 22 years. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
Pakistan’s Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader and federal minister Mustafa Kamal on Sunday accused party founder Altaf Hussain of orchestrating the assassination of MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq.
At a press conference in Karachi, Kamal alleged that Hussain ordered the murder in a drunken state. He said the murder was carried out on instructions from Hussain.
Dr Farooq was one of the founding members of the MQM when it started as a student movement. He was widely regarded as the ideological architect of the party and played a key role in shaping its constitution, discipline and organizational structure.
He was murdered on September 16, 2010 in London. Police said he was attacked outside his home after returning from work. Two men attacked him with a brick and knives, killing him instantly.
Dr Farooq had moved to London in 1999 following a security forces operation against the MQM over allegations of involvement in terrorist activities.
The murder attracted international attention and led to a lengthy investigation by Scotland Yard. While several MQM members were subsequently convicted, allegations of the involvement of senior party leaders have persisted.
At the press conference, Kamal described the MQM founder as “a theatrical man” who performs “songs about dead bodies” and sees himself as a ruler.
Read: Dr Imran Farooq’s widow hails verdict, pays tribute to MQM ‘hero’
He alleged that Hussain staged a dramatic display over the body of Dr Farooq’s wife and sought donations worth millions of pounds to send the body to Pakistan.
Kamal claimed that Dr Farooq was killed as a “gift” on the MQM founder’s birthday. He said a call for donations was also made in conjunction with the murder.
Dr Farooq’s wife Shumaila Farooq died in London on December 19 this year. He reportedly suffered from throat cancer.
Kamal further alleged that the founder of MQM depended on foreign funding, destroyed generations and continues to harm people. He urged Dr Farooq’s children not to associate with him.
He said he had remained in contact with Dr Farooq’s widow and children, who were placed under the protection of Scotland Yard after the murder.
Trial and sentences
In 2020, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad convicted three Pakistani nationals for the murder of Dr. Imran Farooq.
Khalid Shamim, Mohsin Ali and Moazzam Ali, all members of the MQM, were sentenced to life imprisonment. Each was also fined Rs 1 million, payable to Dr Farooq’s family.
Read more: MQM founder Altaf Hussain hospitalized in London
British police shared evidence with Pakistani authorities after receiving assurances that the accused would not face the death penalty.
The court also ordered the seizure of assets belonging to four other suspects who remain at large.
Further investigation found that the suspects identified as Syed and Kamran had links with the MQM. Investigators said this strengthened the view that the murder was politically motivated.
Dr Farooq’s death marked a turning point for the MQM. The party, which once dominated Karachi politics for decades, later split into multiple factions amid leadership disputes and internal divisions.
