Imran Farooq murder: FIA to arrest Altaf, other suspects through Interpol
Legal experts say a mutually agreed deal maybe struck between both countries for the arrests.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – In an important new development, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has decided on arresting Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and two other prime suspects of Imran Farooq murder case, Iftikhar Hussain and Muhammad Anwar, through Interpol.
The decision for the arrest came after startling revelations into the case by key suspect Khalid Shamim.
It has also been revealed that Shamim and other suspect Mohsin Ali did not take their lawyers into confidence before giving their confessional statements. Lawyers of both suspects have complained to the families of the accused regarding this and have indicated a withdrawal from the case for this reason.
According to FIA, arrest warrants from Islamabad’s court against the three accused will be sent to London through Interpol. A request will also be made to the British government to arrest the suspects through Interpol and be handed over to Pakistan.
Legal experts have stated that even though no such agreement for the custody of the accused exists between Pakistan and Britain, however it is possible that a mutually agreed deal pertaining to this issue maybe struck between both countries given the sensitivity of the case.
It is pertinent to mention here that the MQM leaders have been nominated in the First Information Report (FIA) filed in Pakistan.
Further Reading: FIA to seek arrest warrants against Altaf Hussain, two others
Earlier on Thursday, two prime suspects of the case, Khalid Shamim and Mohsin Ali, confessed to the crime in front of the judicial Magistrate.
Shamim admitted that a key MQM personality wanted to get Farooq out of his way. He said the directives to assassinate Farooq came from London.
The suspect also admitted that Kashif attacked the victim with a knife.
ATC Judge Kosar Abbas Zaidi approved a 14 day judicial remand of the suspects and ordered that both suspects be brought to court again on 21st January.
Further Reading: Key MQM personality wanted to get Imran Farooq out of his way: Khalid Shamim
Farooq, 50, a founding member of the MQM party was stabbed and beaten to death in Edgware, northwest London in September 2010.
He claimed asylum in Britain in 1999. He was wanted in Pakistan over scores of charges including torture and murder but always claimed the accusations were politically motivated.
He had twice been elected an MP in Pakistan, but went into hiding in 1992 when the government ordered a military crackdown against party activists in Karachi.
