Imran Farooq
Encyclopedia
Imran Farooq
was a Pakistan
i 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. He lived in London in self-imposed exile from 1999 until his death in September 2010.
, Pakistan. His father, Farooq Ahmed, was born in Delhi
, British India before he migrated to Pakistan during the Partition of India
in 1947 and was elected as a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
. 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. In 2004, Farooq married a former member of the Sindh Assembly, Shumaila Nazar. He fathered two children.
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.
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. 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. 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.
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.
ed near his home in north London
on 16 September 2010.
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.
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.
Recitations of the Quran and prayers were organised by members of MQM across the world for Farooq.
A suspect was arrested in December 2010
expressed his deep sorrow and shock saying that "Imran was a great political leader who rendered his services for his party diligently." 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. The Pakistani Senate adjourned a session of parliament and paid tribute to Farooq from across the political spectrum. 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."
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. He also called Farooq a "Shaheed-e-Inqalab" or Martyr of the Revolution.
was a Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i politician who was best known for his association with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
Muttahida Qaumi Movement
Muttahida Qaumi Movement generally known as MQM, is a liberal-secular political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh...
(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. He lived in London in self-imposed exile from 1999 until his death in September 2010.
Biography
Imran Farooq was born in KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Pakistan. His father, Farooq Ahmed, was born in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, British India before he migrated to Pakistan during the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in 1947 and was elected as a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
National Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
. Farooq's father was Muhajir
Muhajir people
Muhajir [literally – migrants] is a term commonly used especially by Pakistanis to describe the Muslim immigrants who chose to settle in Pakistan and shifted their domicile after partition of British India into Pakistan and India. Some had participated in the movement for creation of Pakistan in...
. Farooq was a physician by education. He graduated from Sindh Medical College
Sindh Medical College
Sindh Medical College , is a medical college situated beside Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.SMC started functioning on April 7, 1973 after the final decision of a committee constituted by the Government of Sindh and after its budget was approved in the first week of...
in Karachi, Pakistan with an MBBS
MBBS
MBBS was a popular BBS system in the Nordic countries during the mid-1990s. It was created by a team of Oslo-based enthusiasts, led by Mike Robertson. As many BBS systems of that era, it was only available for the DOS platform. Since one process could only handle one node, multitaskers such as...
degree in 1985. In 2004, Farooq married a former member of the Sindh Assembly, Shumaila Nazar. He fathered two children.
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.
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. In 1988 and 1990, he was elected to the Pakistan National Assembly and became the Parliamentary Leader of the MQM.By 1992, the MQM had become a political force in Karachi. In an effort to curtail the MQM’s power, the Pakistani government
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
launched Operation Clean-up
Operation Clean-up
The Operation Clean-up was a military operation led by Pakistan Army and the Army Rangers under the command of Brigadier Imtiaz Ahmed in Karachi, Pakistan that lasted from 1992−1994. The claimed goal of the operation was to 'cleanse' the city of "anti-social" elements...
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. 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. The charges against Farooq were challenged by his mother in 1992 in the Sindh High Court
Sindh High Court
The High Court of Sindh is the highest judicial institution of Sindh province. Established in 1906, it is situated at provincial capital Karachi. Apart from being the highest Court of Appeal for Sindh in civil and criminal matters, the Court was the District Court and the Court of Session in...
(SHC). The SHC's verdict declared the bounty to be illegal and unconstitutional; the consequent appeal by the provincial Government of Sindh
Government of Sindh
Government of Sindh is based in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. سندھ is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and is home to the Sindhis, Muhajirs, Pashtuns and a whole array of other ethnic and linguistic groups. Neighbouring regions are Balochistan to the west and north, Punjab in the north and...
was dismissed by the Supreme Court.
Farooq maintained close relations with Altaf Hussain
Altaf Hussain
Altaf Hussain is the founder and leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement . The MQM emerged as the third largest political party in the national assembly of Pakistan during 1988 and 1990 elections. The MQM secured representation in the parliamentary elections held in the northern areas of Pakistan...
, who called Farooq his "staunch, loyal, and senior companion." In 2004, when Farooq got married in London, Hussain attended the festivities.
Death
Farooq was found murderMurder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
ed near his home in north London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 16 September 2010.
The Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
said they were called on the complaint of a "serious assault" in Green Lane, Edgware
Edgware
Edgware is an area in London, situated north-northwest of Charing Cross. It forms part of both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Harrow. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, where they Farooq, who had suffered multiple stab wounds and head injuries. Despite the efforts of paramedics, Farooq was pronounced dead.
Following reports of his death, violence erupted in his native city of Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Pakistan's main commercial city. Several shops and vehicles were set on fire; however, no casualties were reported. MQM
Muttahida Qaumi Movement
Muttahida Qaumi Movement generally known as MQM, is a liberal-secular political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh...
called for a 10-day strike to mourn Farooq's death.
Recitations of the Quran and prayers were organised by members of MQM across the world for Farooq.
A suspect was arrested in December 2010
Reactions
Pakistani President Asif Ali ZardariAsif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
expressed his deep sorrow and shock saying that "Imran was a great political leader who rendered his services for his party diligently." 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. The Pakistani Senate adjourned a session of parliament and paid tribute to Farooq from across the political spectrum. Pakistan's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Wajid Shamsul Hasan
Wajid Shamsul Hasan
Wajid Shamsul Hasan is a Pakistani diplomat. Since 22 June 2008, he has served as the High Commissioner of Pakistan to the United Kingdom.-Cricket Controversy:...
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."
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. He also called Farooq a "Shaheed-e-Inqalab" or Martyr of the Revolution.