Imran Farooq case: Suspect’s bail plea dismissed

Khalid Shamim is a suspect in the conspiracy-murder case

ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court Thursday dismissed a bail application filed by a suspect standing trial in the Dr Imran Farooq murder case.

ATC Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi dismissed the application of Khalid Shamim, after lawyers for both parties concluded arguments over the plea.

In their arguments, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) informed the court that Shamim was allegedly involved in hatching the plot for the murder.

The investigation agency also read out his confession statement during the hearing, revealing that the suspect used to meet with another suspect at Nine Zero – the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s headquarters in Karachi –and discuss Dr Farooq. The FIA added that the suspect also gained monetary benefits.

The suspect’s counsel argued that the FIA was levelling allegations without submitting any documents or producing witnesses before the court. At this point, court officials noted that the FIA had submitted some documents, including Dr Farooq’s death certificate.

The court subsequently dismissed the bail application.

Two suspects, Shamim and Mohsin Ali, have already recorded their confession statements before a magistrate. They alleged in these statements that the slain MQM leader was killed because he was a “potent threat to the leadership of MQM.” The third suspect, Moazzam Ali, has not yet recorded his confessional statement in the case.

On December 5, the FIA had registered a case against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and other party leaders for their alleged involvement in the murder.

Farooq was stabbed and bludgeoned to death near his apartment in Green Lane, Edgware, in September 2010.

The counter-terrorism wing of the FIA had registered the case under the relevant clauses of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Clauses of conspiracy, assistance, abetment and murder have also been incorporated in the FIR.

Apart from Altaf Hussain, Muhammad Anwar, Iftikhar Hussain, Moazzam, Khalid, Mohsin and Kashif Kamran have also been nominated in the FIR. These MQM members have already been grilled by Scotland Yard.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2016.