Behind bars: Imran Farooq murder suspects set for jail trail

ATC sets November 24 for indictment of suspects

ISLAMABAD: After ordering prison authorities to make arrangements for a trial in jail, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) set November 24 as the date to indict three suspects charged with the murder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Imran Farooq.

ATC-I Judge Kausar Abbas Zaidi on Thursday fixed the indictment date and ordered Adiala jail officials to finalise arrangements for the jail trial. Meanwhile, the court rejected the defence counsel’s objection over a jail trial.

Following the directions, the court is expected to indict suspects Khalid Shamim, Mohsin Ali and Moazzam Ali on November 24.

Two of the suspects, Shamim and Ali, have already recorded their confessions before a magistrate. In their statements, they claimed Farooq was killed as he was a “potent threat to the MQM leadership.” Moazzam has yet to record his confessional statement.

On December 5, 2015, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) registered a case against MQM founder Altaf Hussain and other party leaders for their alleged involvement in the 2010 murder of Dr Farooq.

The slain leader was stabbed and bludgeoned to death near his apartment in Green Lane, Edgware, London, in September 2010.

The counter-terrorism wing of the FIA had registered a case under the relevant clauses of the anti-terrorism act. The clauses of conspiracy, assistance, abetment and murder have also been incorporated in the FIR.

Muhammad Anwar, Iftikhar Hussain, Moazzam, Khalid, Mohsin and Kashif Kamran have also been nominated in the FIR. These MQM members have already been interrogated by the London’s Scotland Yard.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2016.