Imran Farooq’s body not arriving this weekend

A staffer at the MQM’s information wing says the rumours are a bid by rivals to defame the party.

KARACHI: At first the reports were that the body of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Imran Farooq, murdered in London on Sept 16, would arrive in Karachi for burial on Saturday. But inquiries have revealed that it is unlikely it will take place this weekend.

“People were calling Nine Zero to confirm the news as many people were approached to shut down their businesses on Friday,” said the MQM’s spokesman Qamar Mansoor while talking to The Express Tribune on Thursday.

A staffer at the MQM’s information wing added that the rumours were just a bid by rivals to defame the party. “There is absolutely no truth in it and why would the MQM keep [people] in the dark,” said the staffer. “It would take Dr Imran’s body another week or so to be brought to Karachi after all the necessary legal procedures are fulfilled.”

In the meantime, detectives from Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command are handling the investigation.

Several people called up this newspaper’s office to find out if indeed the body was arriving Friday. “I received a call from my son’s school in Clifton telling me not to send my son as the city would shut down because of the burial of Dr Imran Farooq on Friday,” said a caller who identified himself as Faisal.

Another caller who identified herself as Ayesha, a teacher at a DHA school, also said that she was told not to come to work on Friday by the school management. “The management did not give any reason,” she said.

A student at Frobels International School, who did not want to be named, was told that homework due Friday had to be submitted Thursday. “The school asked me not to come on Friday [because of the] city’s situation,” said the sixth grader.

All Karachi Tajir Ittehad’s Atiq Mir felt that it was likely that the city would shut down. “Imran Farooq was a major party’s prominent leader,” he told The Express Tribune. “I’m sure the MQM would want his body to receive the appropriate protocol.”

Chief of police Fayyaz Leghari said that they had not been given any date for the body’s arrival. “We are in contact with the revelant people and have chalked out a comprehensive security plan,” he said, adding, “The day the body arrives, the security plan will be implemented.”

Altaf condoles with Imran Farooq’s parents

MQM founder Altaf Hussain offered his condolences to the parents of Dr Imran Farooq on  Thursday. Speaking on the phone with his father, Farooq Ahmed,  and mother, Begum Raisa Ahmed, Hussain expressed his grief over the murder of their son.

“You have lost your son who struggled for the party’s cause and who was loyal to our mission,” Hussain sympathised with Begum Ahmed, adding,  “Dr Imran proved his loyalty and set an example for others. I will  never forget his contribution nor those days of my struggle when he looked after me.”

In response to Hussain’s telephonic condolence, Farooq Ahmed said that his son remained true to Altaf Hussain till his last breath and he had the honour of being called a ‘Martyr of loyalty’. While Begum Ahmed said that she had handed over her son to Altaf Hussain with absolute devotion. Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad also condoled with Imran Farooq’s family.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2010.