Suspects Khalid Shamim and Syed Mohsin Ali recorded their statements before the magistrate, Captain (retired) Shoaib Ali, after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) produced them amid tight security.
Sources privy to the development revealed that both the suspects completely confessed to their involvement in the assassination of the senior MQM leader. The suspects did not deny FIA’s allegation that they “hatched a conspiracy, conspired with each other and abetted for the murder of Farooq who was a potent threat to the leadership of MQM,” the sources added.
FIA has so far arrested Shamim, Mohsin Ali and Moazzam Ali in the murder case. Moazzam was arrested in March 2015 from Karachi while Khalid and Mohsin were arrested by Frontier Corp Balochistan from Chaman.
In the statement, Mohsin said that Moazzam had processed his visa and prepared travel documents. Shamim said that he consented to join the murder plot since he was a hardcore activist of MQM, the sources said. The sources further said that Shamim also disclosed that a senior MQM leader Muhammad Anwar issued order for the murder of Farooq.
Moazzam has not yet recorded confessional statement in the case. The other suspects recorded statements under section 164 (power to record statements and confessions) of the Criminal Procedure Code before the court. The statements were recorded in Urdu and each statement took almost three hours to complete. Under the law, the suspects were explained that they were not bound to make a confession and if they do so it may be used as evidence against them.
A joint investigation team (JIT) constituted to probe the murder had earlier claimed that MQM chief Altaf Hussain presumed Farooq as a threat and he wanted to eliminate him. The JIT report had further stated that all the three suspects were members of All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation which is the student wing of the MQM.
On December 5, the FIA had registered a case against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and other party leaders for their alleged involvement in the 2010 murder of Dr Imran Farooq. Farooq was stabbed and bludgeoned to death near his apartment in Green Lane, Edgware, in September 2010.
The counter-terrorism wing of the FIA registered the case under the relevant clauses of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The clauses of conspiracy, assistance, abetment and assassination/murder have also been incorporated in the FIR. Apart from Altaf Hussain, Muhammad Anwar, Iftikhar Hussain, Moazzam, Khalid, Mohsin and Kashif Kamran have also been nominated in the FIR. These MQM members have already been grilled by the Scotland Yard.
Investigators from the London Metropolitan Police, which has been investigating the assassination, flew into Pakistan in July and September last year to interrogate the suspects.
Following the statements, an anti-terrorism court sent the suspects to Adiala jail on 14-day judicial remand.
MQM reaction
In a statement issued late on Thursday, the MQM denied any member of the party was involved in Imran Farooq’s murder.
“MQM is aware of reports in the Pakistani media that individuals held in detention by Pakistani authorities have allegedly confessed to the murder of Dr Imran Farooq. These individuals have allegedly named MQM personnel as having ordered the killing,” it said.
“We categorically state that no party personnel have had anything whatever to do with the tragic death of Dr Farooq. We mourn the loss of a man who was our friend and colleague for many years,” the statement added. “MQM welcomes any assistance that may be provided to the British Metropolitan Police Service, who continue to investigate the death of Dr Farooq.”
