Two witnesses testify in Imran Farooq murder case
Witness Akbar says Moazzam had requested for a stay at his house in London
Dr Imran Farooq. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Another two witnesses on Wednesday recorded their statements through video link before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad in Dr Imran Farooq murder case.
The proceedings of the case were led by ATC judge Shahrukh Arjumand.
Dr Farooq, a senior leader of the MQM, was murdered outside his home in London on September 16, 2010.
According to the Scotland Yard, the murder took place in the evening when Farooq was returning home after finishing work at a local pharmacy.
An autopsy determined the cause of death as being head trauma and stab wounds to the neck.
Recording his statement via video link, driver Muhammad Akbar maintained that suspect Moazzam Ali emailed him asking to stay with him.
Akbar said he refused Moazzam’s request due to the limited capacity in his house. However, he helped Moazzam in getting a residence through a friend.
“I picked Moazzam from Heathrow Airport. I knew him though a friend named Shehzad," he said.
Akbar informed the court that Moazzam first came to London to attend Altaf Hussain's wedding which was when he first met him.
“After that he again visited London three to four times,” he said.
Akbar told the court that he also visited Pakistan twice during this period.
The defence counsel inquired about the details of his visit to Pakistan.
“During my first visit to Pakistan, Moazzam came to pick me from the airport. I again visited Pakistan in 2012 when Moazzam requested my friend Akbar to bring me to his place,” Akbar replied
The defence counsel asked Akbar about the whereabouts of meeting.
“That place was perhaps 90. I was scared when I went to meet Moazzam. There was a check post there and many people were armed. I had decided that I would not follow his footsteps,” he responded.
Akbar denied having any proof of his stay with Moazzam.
Second witness, Moeenuddin Shaikh, who was another suspect Mohsin Ali Syed’s landlord said he had recorded his statement to the police in 2013.
Giving the details about the suspect, Shaikh said, “Mohsin Ali Syed was my tenant in 2010. He was working in the same shop where I was also employed. He was looking for abode and I provided him a room in my house.
“He gave a copy of his passport and student identity card to me. I used to take 40 pounds rent from him every week,” he said.
Sheikh told the court that before Mohsin disappeared in September 2010, a person named Kamran came to meet him.
“I tried to contact him on his phone. I rang his college and I was told he had not attended the college for the past few days,” he said.
“I then informed the police about his disappearance. The police told me that he had been deported,” he added.
After recording testifying both the witnesses, the court adjourned the proceedings of the case until Thursday (today).
Another two witnesses on Wednesday recorded their statements through video link before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad in Dr Imran Farooq murder case.
The proceedings of the case were led by ATC judge Shahrukh Arjumand.
Dr Farooq, a senior leader of the MQM, was murdered outside his home in London on September 16, 2010.
According to the Scotland Yard, the murder took place in the evening when Farooq was returning home after finishing work at a local pharmacy.
An autopsy determined the cause of death as being head trauma and stab wounds to the neck.
Recording his statement via video link, driver Muhammad Akbar maintained that suspect Moazzam Ali emailed him asking to stay with him.
Akbar said he refused Moazzam’s request due to the limited capacity in his house. However, he helped Moazzam in getting a residence through a friend.
“I picked Moazzam from Heathrow Airport. I knew him though a friend named Shehzad," he said.
Akbar informed the court that Moazzam first came to London to attend Altaf Hussain's wedding which was when he first met him.
“After that he again visited London three to four times,” he said.
Akbar told the court that he also visited Pakistan twice during this period.
The defence counsel inquired about the details of his visit to Pakistan.
“During my first visit to Pakistan, Moazzam came to pick me from the airport. I again visited Pakistan in 2012 when Moazzam requested my friend Akbar to bring me to his place,” Akbar replied
The defence counsel asked Akbar about the whereabouts of meeting.
“That place was perhaps 90. I was scared when I went to meet Moazzam. There was a check post there and many people were armed. I had decided that I would not follow his footsteps,” he responded.
Akbar denied having any proof of his stay with Moazzam.
Second witness, Moeenuddin Shaikh, who was another suspect Mohsin Ali Syed’s landlord said he had recorded his statement to the police in 2013.
Giving the details about the suspect, Shaikh said, “Mohsin Ali Syed was my tenant in 2010. He was working in the same shop where I was also employed. He was looking for abode and I provided him a room in my house.
“He gave a copy of his passport and student identity card to me. I used to take 40 pounds rent from him every week,” he said.
Sheikh told the court that before Mohsin disappeared in September 2010, a person named Kamran came to meet him.
“I tried to contact him on his phone. I rang his college and I was told he had not attended the college for the past few days,” he said.
“I then informed the police about his disappearance. The police told me that he had been deported,” he added.
After recording testifying both the witnesses, the court adjourned the proceedings of the case until Thursday (today).