Dr Imran Farooq murder: London police arrest 2 suspects
The Police Commissioner has been quoted by a London-based newspaper stating that the killers would not be allowed to roam freely on the streets of London.
He also said that London Police is working with Pakistan in Dr Imran Farooq's murder case.
Imran Farooq, who was a prominent MQM leader, was killed last year on September 16, outside his residence in London.
The two suspects were reportedly arrested from the Karachi Airport at least two months ago but Pakistani police never confirmed their arrest.
The arrest of the suspects has finally been confirmed by the British police today.
In August this year, the MQM had urged the media to refrain from spreading “unfounded speculations” about arrests made in Dr Imran Farooq’s murder case.
A statement issued by MQM’s coordination committee said that news reports on two people being arrested at the Karachi airport were “devoid of truth, baseless and concocted.”
The committee said that the purpose behind these “fabricated and malicious” reports was nothing but to “tarnish the image of the MQM and damage its reputation.”
Background
Dr Farooq, one of the founding members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and its forerunner the All Pakistan Muhajir Student Organisation (APMSO) was born in June 14, 1960.
The veteran MQM leader held several posts in the MQM, serving as its first secretary-general and convener, besides being elected to the National Assembly and the party’s parliamentary leader in 1988 and 1990. He was regarded as one of the party’s main ideologues, responsible for the political education of its supporters. After the Nawaz Sharif-led government launched a crackdown on MQM in 1992, Dr Farooq, like other party leaders, went into hiding. Later, he escaped to England in 1999, claiming political asylum there. He got married in 2004. Dr Farooq, 50, is believed to have been attacked on his way home in Green Lane, Edgware.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly mentioned that that the 1992 operation in Karachi was under the PPP-led government. This is incorrect. The error is regretted.
COMMENTS (43)
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I must say im quite impressed with ppp blackmailing techniques first they got pmlq via moonis nicl case now they got both mqm on lock.altaf bhai will certainly not protest the commisonary system now. President will ensure both these parties will get them through senate elell
@ Haris - It is the verbal statement of Chief of Met Police in response to an interviewer's question and not a press release. The video of the statement was shown and being shown repeatedly on TV channels. Open your eyes and do not be selective. Make your argument if you feel that the video of the statement being shown cannot be the source of a news or it is a fake video. Focus on the core story so that you can reach to a conclusion on the subject covered in this news story. do not you wish that murderers and conspirators behind them should be punished. Be with the victim and justice and do not make utterances that show that you are with the murderers and conspirators.
We all Zulfiqar Mirza is in UK to meet with investigation team and its was all his drama played with Afaq Ahmed (Recently Afaq Ahmed disclosed his close contact with him and submitted a request SHC against Altaf Hussain) it might be again arm twisting technique that's was used is past to secure coalition if MQM opposes the restoration of 1979 local Govt system ..... Mirza is still loyal to Zardari according to him and her wife still on very Important position so I don't believe in his cosmetic confrontation within party .........
I could not find any details about that press release on metropolitan police website and its just broke in Pakistani Press likewise in August this years however on 16th sep Detectives investigating the murder of Dr Imran Farooq have offered a reward of up to £20,000 for information on the first anniversary of his death. http://content.met.police.uk/Appeal/Dr-Imran-Farooq-murder-appeal/1400003075835/1257246745782
What MQM denied were the rumors of Altaf Hussain being arrested, not the arrest of 2 suspects
If scotland yard conducts investigation in a fear and meaningful way, then let me congratulates karachites as Dawn is due now. Otherwise, nothing will happen, we mustn't forget saga from Zulfiqar Mirza as well as socalled proceeding by Justice Chaudhry. was any of these stories proven fruitful?
In the current circumstances, I fear that the judicial process will not be concluded, whether in Pakistan or UK. In Pakistan it is the blackmailing by the political party that is suspect in this heinous crime of getting assinated its own leader and in UK it is diplomatic implications, as the current government does not seem to be interested to get this judicial process goes through. it seems that PPP is keeping this heinous murder as card for bargaining. This scenario talks loudly about character and credibility of the two political parties involved. @MQM guys, open your eyes and think of justice and national interest. You might have got some petty gain through political clout of MQM in past. That does not mean you do not formulate your views honestly and based on the facts. Also, do not attempt to distract attention from core issue to a side issue, so as to create haze. Let the reader see the truth and true faces of the parties involved.
We Pakistanis are way better than this British police. We knew the culprits before any arrests were made. I think UK should hire Pakistanis in their police force :).
Why are PPP govt and MQM quiet about the arrests. Aren't they running the govt in Karachi. There is something fishy...
If MQM is honest about this murder, they should welcome all and any arrests, as such attempts may eventually lead to the real culprits!!!
Dont deny 'justice'.... MQM.
@ Sohail
Ask the public, 99% will call them traitors! The lot of them! I say no more!
Yet these 'traitors' received 9% of the vote cast in 2008 elections and according to the latest Gallup poll 7% of Pakistanis are willing to vote for them. Be careful before you start throwing such terms around.
How can MQM say this?? “devoid of truth, baseless and concocted.” and “fabricated and malicious reports was nothing but to tarnish the image of the MQM and damage its reputation.” I bet those arrested are members of MQM, that is why MQM is so worried.
Altaf Bhai must be shopping for a villa in south africa.
Reply to Ex Karachiwala.....the statement has been corrected at the bottom by ET management....pls read carefully before commenting.....
If the story of two suspects being arrested in Karachi has come out to be true then the story of Altaf Hussain being detained by the Scotland Yard around that time must be true as well. Remember, the leaders of the MQM were busy telling the world that Altaf Hussain had been taken ill and was undergoing investigations. That was most probably a lie. The truth was that he was under arrest and being interrogated.
@Think Tank - Compromises are prevalent everywhere. In Pakistan, If it is in the interest of West, the Scotland Yard will take the case to its fair conclusion, otherwise expect that they may also keep silence on it. Sind Interior Minister is still not coming up with the truth, whereas the persons were arrested in Karachi!!! We need to think, why MQM is not seen following up this case. It is surprising that MQM supporters' comments here reflect sadness on arrest of the two culprits involved in the assassination of their "beloved" leader!!! Are they with Imran Farouq or with the culprits? They are also trying to use an error in the report to distract focus from the arrest of two culprits. Why? Non-MQM commentators are happy on the arrests of assassins of MQM's beloved leader.
To what all the above indicators point?
geo broke the news p. s post this
Its a question of credibility of scotland yard police . Peoples are watching that case a very sharp eye .
and Just for the Record, Nawaz Shareef's incompetent Govt ended in 93, then it was PPP that took over operation Cleanup.....Major Gen Naseerullah Khan Baber......Rings a bell?
Ek karachi wala,
MLN continued with PPP's policies against MQM. Things just intensified after MLN came to power in 92.
A Strong Political Party!!!! Who are you kidding Mr Siddiqui.... Ask the public, 99% will call them traitors! The lot of them! I say no more!
@Sachal Sarmast: To bring back the glory days of Karachi when there was peace and construction, you will have to bring back "Dictator" Musharraf, because that was his era. lol.
@Sachal Sarmast: What is "behind the curtain".? Please enlighten us!
“After the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government launched a crackdown on MQM in 1992″. Hahahaha. Such is the journalist quality of the reporter. BTW I remember what MQM denied. They denied Altaf Hussain was arrested on London Airport trying to escape to South Africa. Express Tribute is sounding more and more like Daily Ummat with propaganda journalistic lies.. LOL.
good news to solve mystery
@ Adnan Siddiqui - Your comments distract attention from the main theme of the news. May I know why you are unhappy if justice process has started in a case wherein a prominent Pakistani person was killed for some unknown reasons by some professional assassinators. Could you explain your sadness? .
We karachities happy if genuine culprit have been nabbed. We have seen so much conspiracies in earlier, When Imran Farooq was wanted fugitive and used to live in uneasy life. At that Time, conspirators used the same tactics and wanted to malign the status of MQM. But unfortunately after a long period, Imran Farooq emerged and went to meet with MQM Chief Altaf Hussain. MQM haters don't skip any sensitive matter to malign MQM. Thumbs down to haters.
@drsafi: u r rite. Dr Imran was not an ordinary man. He was a leading figure in MQM. Whoever is involved in his killing, shud b punished.
I don't know who is writing these misleading reports, the report states that, "After the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government launched a crackdown on MQM in 1992" Well that was not Pakistan Peoples Party Government, that was Nawaz Sharif's government. It seems that this is done in a hectic manner that the writer wasn't able to keep the facts straight. In fact, I agree that this is trying to tarnish the name of a strong political party.
Good news for every one including the family of Late Dr. Imran Farooq.
Only one thing will be different. The suspects if found guilt would be punished under the British law and justice will be done.
Had the suspects found guilty would been prosecuted in Pakistan, they would have been out of jail after few years, as no witness would have come forward to recognise them.
The British Government should let Dr. Imran Farooq's family members to remain in UK, as possibly they would get hurt after coming to Pakistan.
He also said that London Police is working with Pakistan in Dr Imran Farooq’s murder case.
ye case be solve nahi hoga unless Pakistani police is involved...
@Acorn Guts: Exactly what I was thinking!
*Nowhere does it say in the statement issued by the London police commissioner as to when the arrests happened
criminal charges against APMSO/MQM/Altaf now ?
It seems that arrests in case of Dr. Imran have positive impact on politics of Karachi. we do not know exactly what is actually behind the curtain. yet we pray and we wish that old glories of and peace in Karachi are restored. people of Karachi deserve the peace and prosperity.