Iftikhar Hussain, 52, is said to be a close relative of a top Pakistani politician. PHOTO: FILE
British authorities have contacted their Pakistani counterparts in connection with the arrest in London on Monday of a suspect in Imran Farooq murder case, seeking permission to investigate some suspects in Pakistan as well.
British police investigating the 2010 murder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader said on Monday that they had arrested a man in connection with the case after he arrived in the city on a flight from Canada.
Counter-terrorism detectives arrested the 52-year-old man, identified as Iftikhar Hussain, at Heathrow Airport in the morning and took him to the West London police station, revealed a police statement.
The detainee, sources familiar with the developments alleged, is a close relative of a top Pakistan politician.
The suspect was reached through forensic investigations using evidence gathered by security officials.
Scotland Yard, headquarters for London’s Metropolitan Police Service, has sought the Call Detail Record (CDR) including text messages of the detained suspect. Sources also say that police had warned other suspects to stay put in the city till investigation was complete.
Additionally, London authorities have enhanced suspects’ surveillance.
Coordinating across seas
The UK authorities contacted the Pakistani government shortly after Hussain’s arrest. Murder suspects in Pakistan are likely to be investigated in connection with the murder of Dr Imran Farooq, particularly after revelations by the freshly detained suspect, sources further state.
Around 3,000 people have been interviewed by Scotland Yard officials in the past 2 years as part of their investigations of the murder
Prior to Hussain’s arrest, two houses in the custody of Muttahida Qaumi Movement activists were searched for evidence by the police. One house was owned by the MQM chief Altaf Hussain, while the other was owned by a man named Akhtar.
Farooq, 50, was a former leader of MQM and had lived in London in self-imposed exile from 1999.
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Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2013.
COMMENTS (52)
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@Aysha M [whatever version] You will be taking your words back soon. Time will prove to you in the next few weeks about your immature understanding.
Just wait and see.
@Aysha M In response to Your statement: Just want people who can keep my home city together, so I support MQM If you are really sincere this is the time to look for other alternatives.
@Hairaan: In sha Allah!!
@Such Bolta Hoon: Commenting on ET is my 2 cents for Karachi. MQM has the highest stakes in Karachi. When they were in power they demonstrated they could keep Karachi together. Just want people who can keep my home city together, so I support MQM
Here goes Aysha M- the defender of the MQM or should I say a member of the social media team.
Though I agree that we should all wait and see the outcomes.
Innocent until proven guilty.
I think what is interesting is the affiliation and how it is reported on the media.
I'm taking this oppurtunity to dispel the notion that imran farooq was forming a bihari party and thats why he was killed. rather, imran farooq was from delhi, his father being born there. this fact can be checked on wikipedia.
@Gp65: you are right i agree with u but my point was that unlike Pakistani agencies and government who close their eyes from all these open and well known secrets; the Scotland Yard should not get biased or effected by any means.
@Randomstranger: they know their job well but its political leadership which is weak and wants to exploit like Zulfiqar Mirza. PPP knows well about those killers and it was used as bargain chip with MQM. the housing societies are built in remote area and no free plots are given to anyone. initially the prices are low and are given as incentive within dept. But when civilians like you start coming due to better organisation then prices increases. Bakeries are run as welfare measures and within the available resources to make them more productive. Ask soldiers who are made to work as cook what incentive he gets? why donot you send your brother as soldier for these 'free privileges'
Classic or country I don't know the jenre; but Iftikhar Hussain is singing! Soon the whole orchestra will join the chorus led by the Conductor in Chief himself!
@Aysha M:
of course you dont. you believe its an imperial conspiracy against MQM. because that makes so much sense.
Why am i not able to comment on the following link?
http://tribune.com.pk/story/568190/imran-farooq-murder-political-workers-politicians-wife-being-investigated/
ET, Why my comments were dropped. I only said reality that it is nothing but increasing pressure upon MQM to join the Government, a move initiated by RM after failed negotiation with new Rabita Committee. Any one can understand that easily.
I'M so happy to feel that Karachi will be free soon. Just getting goose bumps thinking what this 'top official' that ET didn't name is feeling like, at the moment.
@ahmed: thats what all agencies around the world do.sorry, you cannot be heard around in any worthwhile place.your comments stays around ET only.
@Aysha M: Please wait,no need to be impatient everything will be revealed in due course. Inshallah it will good news for peace loving people of Pakistan and particularly for the people of Karachi who have been living in terror for past 15/20 years
G.Khan
.it is true that most of the time the official sources will not disclose the names of the relatives of the arrested people in Europe or North American countries but the Tabloids will be happy to swing any dirt they could find. However it is the norm in Pakistani journalism that such and such is the relative of such and such and they always mention how much money, property or land they own. I don't consider ET as some kind of Tabloid so quit bashing them. We have waited 3 years and now could wait for a few more weeks so the truth shall come out and the whole world would know who are the instigators of this murder. I wish PPP has been so vigilant to find the murderers of BB.
This guy is Altaf Hussains first cousin.
With balance heavily tilted towards Lahore , the British will not wipe out Karachi's defiance. They believe to have a point. Taliban is free. There is no counterweight. Karachi's defiance must be accommodated by Lahore with out Sindhi intervention. If Nawaz saheb is prepared to go extra length external economy can be improved. British will thrash out an agreement. This applecart can be upset only by Taliban which is in strong presence in the city , arrived at the invitation of hosts far and near. No wonder the British police were interviewing 3000 meanwhile.
well, Scotland Yard is taking a way too long to resolve this case, i think they are also pursuing the "Reconciliation Policy" like Pakistani Government, that is why this case is being prolonged otherwise for them it was just a matter of couple of weeks.
Its like being served at a bar-BQ: first the salad, then the yogurt, and finally, the main course!!
@Shah Taj Ali Khan: Please look up George Galloway, you would know how far you can believe what he says
@Kashif: I would wait for investigations and justice to take its course rather than to preempt and suggest involvement of MQM.
As of now I believe that it cant be MQM
@ET Yellow Journalism .... “The detainee, sources familiar with the developments alleged, is a close relative of a top Pakistan politician.”
Thank to Mr. George Galloway ... Mr. Iftikhar Hussain is the cousin of Altaf Hussain (MQM)
@Fahd
Yeah, like GEO News is the absolute source of truth...Besides, what do you think about all those terrorists that drones can kill, yet our own air force and defense forces can't? Surely, our intelligence agencies that single handedly destroyed the Soviet Union(sarcasm intended), they would have arrested a lot of terrorists and terrorist leaders by now, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Unless they are actually colluding with the terrorists themselves that is?
@Fact
In Europe, recession doesn't mean 40% of people suffering from malnutrition and 58% literacy rate. When we have been paying lion's share of budget to our defense forces, we expect results and have a right to complain and scrutinize. You people might be safe in your cantts and defence housing schemes, us normal people aren't safe at all...Also, in Europe people don't killed in masses every day. In Pakistan 14 people dying in one day is the norm without any chance of killers being brought to Justice or even named, but in London, one murdered Asylum seeker is enough to mobilize the whole police and intelligence force.
Where is our dear Ayesha M today?
MQM can't say that 'agencies' are behind this in London, just like they said in Azeem Tariq murder case
If Mr. Iftikhar Hussain is guilty, why would he travel from Canada to London, the place of investigation.
This guy is Altaf Hussain;s first cousin, Iftikhar Hussain. ARRESTED. is as simple as tht.
@Randomstranger: the agencies had already solved the case and they caught some people who were trained and sent to UK to murder the personnel and then they were sent to Sri lanka, later they were called back to Pakistan just to be killed but the agencies did not even let them out of the airport .... they admitted the crime and later no news..... this all came on GEO News.
@Aschraful Makhlooq: Scotland Yard is not in the habit of disclosing a suspect's family links when arresting them. Clearly you do not know how Scotland Yard works.
I still think the arrest is more about money laundering. A 'top Pakistani politician' should immediately engage a corporate lawyer....
@afzaal khan: you guys never stop complaining.
@Randomstranger: Scotland yard, wishes the same to learn from their Pakistani counterparts. Europe is in recession!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yahoo...I can see the light at the end of tunnel!
People dream out of their personal biases as the 3 year old saga goes on...
Everyone please stop bashing ET for not naming the politician, after all he is not from PTI, God forbid if he was then ET would have even written an editorial :)
Finally Karachi will be free...I can hear the bells of FREEDOM ringing...
The quaid is leading a modest life in a million pound "house" he bought back in 2001 (how did he get the money to buy, don't ask". He has not benefitted his relatives (don't ask how they live lavishly in UK and Canada??). Quaid is surely the leader of the 98% mutawassit tabqa, he proves it by his lifestyle.
Why Scotland Yard is not disclosing before the world the Iftikhar Hussain's Pakistani politician's relative's name?This means and proves that British police are intentionally camouflaging the realities......
Are the days of Karachi hardship going to be over soon?
Here goes independent & fearless reporting toooooooooooo afraid to report better not even to print this news
Truth must and will reveal.
It seems to be a major break through.
If the 52 years old suspect is realesd on bail, it means that some one else may be directky involved in Imran Farooq's murder case.
@Randomstranger, u forgot to mention one more thing, they also like to move in heavy duty luxury SUVs.
ET you have stopped down to the lowest level of honest and fearless reporting/journalism! why not name the "top politician"?
Britain is not Karachi! And their investigators will not take any pressure tactics.
Why doesn't ET mention the name of the 'top Pakistani politician' who is the relative of the suspect? Is ET going to invoke the Ethical Journalism clause in this case to hide its partial reporting standards.
I wish our intelligence agencies could learn something from Scotland Yard. Right now, the only thing they are any good at is building residential housing societies using tax payer money, and opening up bakeries and wedding halls.
police is still beating about the bush!
The Guy is allegedly first cousin of Altaf Hussain according to George Gallowey. It seems MQM is in trouble.
ET : "The detainee, sources familiar with the developments alleged, is a close relative of a top Pakistan politician." ET Don't u know who is this top politician????
What goes around will come around.