- Imran Farooq
-
Imran Farooq Born June 14, 1960
Karachi, PakistanDied September 16, 2010 (aged 50)
London, EnglandOccupation Physician, Politician Political party Muttahida Qaumi Movement Religion Islam Spouse Shumaila Nazar Children 2 children[1] Parents Mohammad Farooq Ahmed Imran Farooq (Urdu: عمران فاروق; June 14, 1960 – September 16, 2010)[2] was a Pakistani politician who was best known for his association with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a political party in Pakistan, of which he was a very senior member. He was also a founding member of the All Pakistan Muhajir Student Organization (APMSO). Farooq held several positions in MQM and the Pakistani government.[3] He lived in London in self-imposed exile from 1999 until his death in September 2010.[3]
Contents
Biography
Imran Farooq was born in Karachi, Pakistan. His father, Farooq Ahmed, was born in Delhi, British India before he migrated to Pakistan during the Partition of India in 1947[4][5] and was elected as a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan.[6] Farooq's father was Muhajir. Farooq was a physician by education. He graduated from Sindh Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan with an MBBS degree in 1985.[3] In 2004, Farooq married a former member of the Sindh Assembly, Shumaila Nazar.[3][7] He fathered two children.[8]
Although he was not a writer by profession, Farooq authored several works during his lifetime. His most known contribution is The Guiding Principles of MQM.[9]
MQM
In 1978 Imran Farooq helped established the APMSO. When in 1984, the APMSO gave birth to the Mohajir Quami Movement, Farooq served as its first Secretary General and Convener.[10] In 1988 and 1990, he was elected to the Pakistan National Assembly and became the Parliamentary Leader of the MQM.[11]
By 1992, the MQM had become a political force in Karachi. In an effort to curtail the MQM’s power, the Pakistani government launched Operation Clean-up and sent the military into Karachi to crack down on the MQM. This operation forced the MQM's leadership, including Farooq, to go into hiding. After being in hiding for nearly seven years, Farooq escaped from Pakistan in 1999 and sought political asylum in the United Kingdom.[12][13] From London, Farooq continued to lead the MQM with Altaf Hussain and other senior members of the party from exile. When Farooq left Pakistan, he had a bounty on his head. Farooq was charged with terrorism, which he denied upon arrival in London.[14][15] The charges against Farooq were challenged by his mother in 1992 in the Sindh High Court (SHC). The SHC's verdict declared the bounty to be illegal and unconstitutional; the consequent appeal by the provincial Government of Sindh was dismissed by the Supreme Court.[16]
Farooq maintained close relations with Altaf Hussain, who called Farooq his "staunch, loyal, and senior companion." In 2004, when Farooq got married in London, Hussain attended the festivities.[17][18][19]
Death
Farooq was found murdered near his home in north London on 16 September 2010.[20][21]
The Metropolitan Police said they were called on the complaint of a "serious assault" in Green Lane, Edgware, where they Farooq, who had suffered multiple stab wounds and head injuries. Despite the efforts of paramedics, Farooq was pronounced dead.[20]
Following reports of his death, violence erupted in his native city of Karachi, Pakistan's main commercial city. Several shops and vehicles were set on fire; however, no casualties were reported. MQM called for a 10-day strike to mourn Farooq's death.[22]
Recitations of the Quran and prayers were organised by members of MQM across the world for Farooq.[23]
A suspect was arrested in December 2010[24]
Reactions
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his deep sorrow and shock saying that "Imran was a great political leader who rendered his services for his party diligently."[25] Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani called the MQM leader Altaf Hussain to offer his condolences and said Farooq’s death was a great loss for MQM.[26] The Pakistani Senate adjourned a session of parliament and paid tribute to Farooq from across the political spectrum.[27] Pakistan's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Wajid Shamsul Hasan called on the police to find the "sinister hand" behind the assassination. He added that "The Pakistani government has condemned this murder in the strongest possible words, "that Farooq "was really highly respected by whatever political groups...He believed more in solutions to problems than creating problems and his assassination needs to be condemned in the strongest possible way because he was not a violent person."[28]
The Altaf Hussain also lauded Farooq's long relationship with him and said he was at a loss to explain his grief at Dr. Farooq's death, adding that Farooq had set an example for others to follow.[29] He also called Farooq a "Shaheed-e-Inqalab" or Martyr of the Revolution.[30]
References
- ^ "Brief profile of Dr Imran Farooq.(1960-2010)". Muttahida Quami Movement. http://www.mqm.org/English-News/Sep-2010/news100916b.htm. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ^ "Imran Farooq: Life of a political worker". Dawn. 17 September 2010. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/04-imran-farooq-qs-02. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Dr Imran Farooq: a profile". Dawn. September 18, 2010. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/local/dr-imran-farooq-a-profile-890. Retrieved Oct 6, 2010.
- ^ Sri Lanka Guardian: Who killed Dr. Imran Farooq?
- ^ "History of Pakistan". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-z_bMpswmc&feature=related.
- ^ "The murder in suburbia that sent shockwaves across the world". Independent (The Independent). September 18, 2010. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/the-murder-in-suburbia-that-sent-shockwaves-across-the-world-2082697.html. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
- ^ "Imran Farooq Wedding". MQM USA. February 13, 2004. http://www.mqm.org/English-News/Feb-2004/ifweddsn040213.htm. Retrieved Oct 9, 2010.
- ^ "Imran Farooq: Life of a Political Worker". Dawn. September 17, 2010. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/04-imran-farooq-qs-02. Retrieved Oct 6, 2010.
- ^ "The Guiding Principles". MQM USA. http://www.mqmusa.com/Units/Central/THE%20GUIDING%20PRINCIPLES%20OF%20MQM.pdf. Retrieved Oct 12, 2010.
- ^ "Brief Profile of Dr. Imran Farooq". MQM USA. http://www.mqm.org/English-News/Sep-2010/news100916b.htm. Retrieved Oct 6, 2010.
- ^ "Imran Farooq: Life of a Political Worker". Dawn Newspaper. September 17, 2010. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/04-imran-farooq-qs-02. Retrieved Oct 6, 2010.
- ^ "MQM stunned as Imran Farooq is assassinated in London". Dawn. 17 September 2010. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/mqm-stunned-as-imran-farooq-is-assassinated-in-london-790. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ "Pakistani fugitive claims asylum in UK". BBC News. 10 September 1999. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/443411.stm. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ "The Murder in Suburbia...". Dawn. September 18, 2010. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/the-murder-in-suburbia-that-sent-shockwaves-across-the-world-2082697.html. Retrieved Oct 6, 2010.
- ^ "Pakistani Fugitive Claims Asylum in UK". Dawn. September 17, 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/443411.stm. Retrieved Oct 6, 2010.
- ^ "Head Money on MQM Men". Dawn. May 29, 2003. http://www.dawn.com/2003/05/29/local27.htm. Retrieved Oct 12, 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Imran Farooq's Wedding Celebration". MQM. http://www.mqm.org/English-News/Feb-2004/ifweddsn040213_4.htm. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ "MQM". MQM. http://www.mqm.org/. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ "Imran Farooq’s burial planned in Karachi". Dawn. September 18, 2010. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/imran-farooqs-burial-planned-in-karachi-mqm-sees-murder-as-message-for-altaf-890. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ a b "Pakistani politician Imran Farooq murdered in London". BBC News. 17 September 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11338054. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ "Imran Farooq murdered outside London home". The Guardian. 17 September 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/17/imran-farooq-murdered-london-home. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ "Violence erupts in Pakistan after politician's death". CNN. 17 September 2010. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/09/17/pakistan.violence. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ "MQM expresses concerns over violence in city". AAJ News. 20 September 2010. http://www.aaj.tv/2010/09/mqm-expresses-concerns-over-violence-in-city/.
- ^ http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=2573&Cat=13&dt=12/10/2010
- ^ "President condemns Dr Imran Farooq’s murder". Geo TV. September 17, 2010. http://www.geo.tv/9-17-2010/71540.htm. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ "PM Gilani telephones Altaf Hussain, condoles upon Dr. Imran’s murder". Dunya News. September 19, 2010. http://dunyanews.tv/main_category_eng.php?nid=16271&catid=2&flag=d. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ "Senate pays rich tribute to Thahim, Dr Farooq". The Express Tribune. September 21, 2010. http://tribune.com.pk/story/52748/senate-pays-rich-tribute-to-thahim-dr-farooq. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ "Pakistani high commissioner pays tribute to Dr Imran Farooq, murdered in Edgware last night". Hendon and Finchley Times. September 17, 2010. http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/topstories/8399277.Pakistani_high_commissioner_condemns_political__assassination. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ "Altaf Hussain pays tribute to Dr Imran Farooq". The News (Pakistan). September 19, 2010. http://www.thenews.com.pk/latest-news/1479.htm. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ "Imran Farooq is Shaheed-e-Inqilab: Altaf". The Nation. September 18, 2010. http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/18-Sep-2010/Imran-Farooq-is-ShaheedeInqilab-Altaf. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
External links
Categories:- 1960 births
- 2010 deaths
- Members of the National Assembly of Pakistan
- Murder in 2010
- Murder in London
- Muttahida Qaumi Movement politicians
- Muhajir people
- People murdered in England
- Pakistani murder victims
- Pakistani politicians
- People from Karachi
- People from London
- Pakistani expatriates in England
- Deaths by stabbing
- Pakistani Muslims
- Fugitives wanted by Pakistan
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