A former Pakistani parliamentarian, one of the founding members and former convener of party’s coordination committee of Muttehada Qaumi Movement (MQM), Dr. Imran Farooq has been tragically stabbed to death in London on his way back home from a walk on the day of 57th Birthday of MQM leader Altaf Hussain.
According to media reports so far he was attacked by an anonymous assailant outside his house. As I am writing this, there are news reports that Scotland Yard got hold of CCTV footage of the crime scene but details are still to come.
There are rumors in the media that he was suspended from the party or non functional these days as he wanted time off. Dr. Imran Farooq, 50, claimed asylum in Britain after 1992 Karachi operation and never returned to Pakistan since then. He was accused of a range of charges, including murder and torture at that time.
MQM immediately called off all the celebrations for MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s birthday which were under way at that time in Karachi and various other places and all workers that have gathered were asked to return home.
Altaf Hussain could not control himself and burst his emotions into tears while paying condolences over the unpleasant incident through his audio visual message from London. He has called it as irreparable and greatest shock of his life along with a major blow to MQM’s political history so far. In a press briefing, MQM’s Convener Dr. Farooq Sattar has announced ten days of mourning and suspension of all kind of political and administrative party activities all over the world.
The coming days will be a test for Karachi where it all activities to come to standstill or Karachities may witness yet another bloodshed as it happened after the MQM parliamentarian Raza Haider was assassinated in Karachi last month. At least 80 people were killed in three violent days at that time.
It will be a testing time for MQM leadership and government to control law and order situation of Karachi especially if Imran Farooq’s body be brought back to Karachi for burial.
Image: MQM.org
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