KARACHI: Dr Imran Farooq, a founding member of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, which later became the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), was killed in London on Thursday evening.Expressing his profound grief over the shocking incident, Quaid Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain termed the incident as the saddest incident of his life, saying the deceased was Shaheed-e-Inqilab.
When the news broke late Thursday night, streets and roads in Karachi became deserted as people headed for their homes. Also, in their immediate reaction to the killing, leaders of various parties, including President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani and the Awami National Party condemned the murder in strong terms.
Sources said on Thursday evening when Dr Imran Farooq was climbing the stairs of his flat in Mill Hill, North London, an unknown person stabbed him twice. He fell down the stairs. The assailant followed him and again stabbed him twice at the bottom of the stairs. He was shifted to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Following the confirmation of his death, all birthday celebrations of the MQM chief were cancelled.
In a late night development, senior MQM leaders assembled at Imran Farooq’s residence in Sharifabad, Federal B Area, to condole with the family. In a late night press conference at the residence of Dr Imran Farooq, his close associate Dr Farooq Sattar said the death of Dr Farooq was a great loss for the party and the MQM activists.
He announced 10-day mourning on behalf of the MQM Rabita Committee. During the mourning period, MQM activities throughout the world will remain suspended.
The Rabita Committee, he said, also condoled with the bereaved family. He said that the MQM chief was greatly upset over the death of Dr Imran Farooq. The place of burial of Dr Imran Farooq will be decided later. He hoped that the unidentified killer would be soon arrested.
Imran Farooq had attended the Sindh Medical College, where he was closely associated with Dr Farooq Sattar. Farooq was the secretary general of the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO).
After the emergence of the MQM, he became the first convener of the party. Following the death of General Zia and the elections in 1988, Imran Farooq was elected as an MNA from Karachi. He was the parliamentary leader of the MQM in the National Assembly.
In 1992, when the military operation against the MQM started, Imran Farooq, like other party leaders, went into hiding. He was facing several cases of crimes of heinous nature. Though he remained underground, he continued to run the party. After several years, he resurfaced in London.
Dr Imran Farooq was suspended twice from the party membership in recent years. Dr Farooq’s father was also elected an MNA in 1997. Dr Imran Farooq had married some five years ago. He is survived by his wife, Shumaila Farooq, and two children. Shumaila Farooq was a Sindh MPA in 2002.
According to initial reports, Dr Imran was returning home after a walk in a nearby park when he was repeatedly stabbed by an unidentified attacker around 11.30 pm (PST). So far, it is not clear whether it was a case of a mugging gone bad or a pre-planned assassination.
The critically injured leader was rushed to a nearby hospital where he expired an hour or so later. According to another unconfirmed report coming in later, he may have been murdered by his own security guard. Dr Farooq’s parents reside in Karachi while his wife constantly shuttled between Karachi and London. cont..
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