Media watch: Shadow over Karachi

Senior MQM leader Imran Farooq's murder in London sparks questions as Karachi grinds to a halt

Media watch is a daily round-up of key articles featured on news websites, hand-picked by The Express Tribune web staff.

London in shock after Imran Farooq’s murder

Residents at the streets where the killing took place told The News on Thursday they were shocked at what had happened at their quiet street. Alexa Curion, a local nurse, said she had lived on the street for more than 30 years and found the street and the area generally to be very nice and relatively crime free. “I am shocked. I never knew who this Pakistani politician was who lived a few doors away from mine but I am saddened that he has been killed,” she said. Murtaza Ali Shah (thenews.com.pk)

Karachi shuts down to mourn Imran Farooq’s murder

In the first incident, unidentified people torched three vehicles, a dumper and a carpet shop at Clifton area in the early hours of Friday. Later in the day, a truck was burned in Garden area, a minibus at Burns Road and another at Aram Bagh. Irfan Aligi (dailytimes.com.pk)

Activity in industrial estates adversely affected

As the news spread, transport went off the roads, markets and petrol pumps were closed and trading activity came to a standstill. Industrialists claim that one-day closure of industrial units in Karachi causes around Rs 2.5 billion losses. Daily-wage employees were the worst affected as they lost their day's earning. NH Zuberi (brecorder.com)

Imran Farooq’s burial planned in Karachi

MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar told reporters earlier that the party was in touch with British authorities in London for repatriation of the body. He said the body would be handed over to the family after the initial process of investigation and post-mortem were completed. “It is our desire that the funeral of Dr Farooq should be held in his country,” he said. (dawn.com)

Imran Farooq, murdered Pakistani politician, 'thought he would be safe in London'

Sam Ibgi, a property developer and neighbour of Dr Farooq, said a woman who lived nearby had witnessed a struggle between two Asian men from her window.

"She saw him being knocked on the head a couple of times. She heard screams and she saw someone beating him.

"She said he struggled and then the guy stabbed him. Laura Roberts and Heidi Blake (telegraph.co.uk)