Pakistan springs into action as MQM office ‘raid’ stirs controversy

Pakistan’s Foreign Office, which routinely stays away from the country’s political issues, has jumped in the on-going controversy whether or not the London police raided an office of the Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Section of the Pakistani media had reported that the police late Thursday raided the MQM office located in a business center in connection with the investigation into the mysterious 2010 murder of a senior MQM leader, Dr Imran Farooq.

The MQM had evaded comments on the raid on Edgware road and a 10-hour questioning of some people there. The London Metropolitan Police confirmed the raid but did not make any arrest.

Now the BBC Urdu has also reported the raid was conducted at the address of the Business Center of the self-exiled MQM leader, Altaf Hussain. The Press Office of the London Metropolitan Police said the search operation continued for two days.

Spokesman for the London Police, Jonathan told the BBC that the raid was launched on Thursday and a detailed search operation continued until Friday. He did not give details of the evidences that were taken into custody by the raiding party.

The London-based MQM spokesman, Mustafa Aziz Abadi, said he is unaware of the raid, the BBC reported. He said ‘there is not such thing’ when asked if the police raided the Altaf Hussain’s business center. Abadi criticized the media for publishing stories about the incident.

An anti-terrorism team of the London Metropolitan Police said in September that Dr Imran Farooq had planned an ‘independent profile’ few months before he was murdered.

The police had stated that Farooq was thinking about his political carrier and that is why the police will talk to all those who had in political contact with him.

As the London police raid has been reported over the past three days, the Foreign Ministry has issued a rare statement to comment on the issue.

Responding to a question regarding Police raid on a business office in London in connection with MQM leader Imran Farooq’s murder, the Spokesperson said that it would be premature and wrong to draw any conclusion about the raid.

“We are confident that the investigation would eventually help clear all misgivings about MQM which is not only a coalition partner but also represents secular forces in the country,” the spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday.

The Foreign Office sensed sensitivity of the matter and issued the statement even on weekend, a close holiday in Pakistan.

Farooq was murdered on 16 September 2010 in London. The authorities had launched an investigation and had also arrested a suspect who was released later for lack of evidence.

Farooq had co-founded the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO), the parent organisation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, with Altaf Hussain. He was deputy convener of the party, technically next in line to the MQM chief.

But he was believed to have left the party in 2009 after developing differences over organisational matters.

Police in London are still hunting an attacker who, one witness said, appeared to be an Asian man.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=35899

Posted by Tahir Khan on Dec 8 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Opinion, Pakistan, Politics, South Asia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.