Court allows publishing MQM founder’s summons in British newspapers

Hearing Imran Farooq murder case, ATC also directs FIA to include Altaf Hussain's London address in the...

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad has allowed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to publish advertisements in British newspapers in a bid to bring Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain before the court.

The decision was made during the hearing of former MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq’s murder case on Wednesday, Express News reported.

The FIA prosecutor presented a progress report regarding Altaf Hussain’s appearance before the court through newspaper ads in today’s hearing.

Advocate Mehar Muhammad presented arguments on behalf of suspect Mohsin Ali while Muazzam Ali was represented by Advocate Arif Khan. However, the suspects could not be indicted due to incomplete challan of the case.



During the hearing, prosecutor Khawaja Imtiaz apprised the court that advertisements will soon be published in British and United States newspapers, summoning the MQM founder before the court.

A complete challan of the case could only be submitted after the ads were published, he added.

On that, the court directed that Hussain’s London address must also be included in the newspaper advertisements.

The hearing was later adjourned till January 24 after the court directed the prosecution to submit the completed challan at the earliest.



On December 5, 2015, the FIA had registered a case against the MQM founder and other party leaders for their alleged involvement in the murder of Dr Imran Farooq, who was stabbed to death near his apartment in London’s Edgware neighbourhood in September 2010.

Besides Mohsin and Moazzam, Khalid Shamim is the third suspect being tried in an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad. The suspects are currently imprisoned at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

Shamim and Mohsin have already recorded their confessional statements before a judicial magistrate, alleging that Dr Farooq was killed since he was a “potent threat to the MQM leadership” and the murder was supposed to be a ‘birthday gift’ for Altaf Hussain.