Shumaila Imran Farooq remains in ICU, sister to the rescue

By
Murtaza Ali Shah
|
Shumaila Imran Farooq remains in ICU, sister to the rescue

LONDON: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s slain founding leader Dr Imran Farooq’s widow Shumaila Imran Farooq remains in intensive care unit at a central London hospital as her heart-beat continues to fluctuate. 

Doctors are doing their best but they have been unable to help Shumaila regain the usual and normal heart-beat level, said a source in the hospital.  

This correspondent has learnt that Shumaila Imran Farooq’s sister has flown from Karachi to stay with Shumaila’s sons Alishaan, 11, and Wejdaan, 9. 

Shumaila Imran Farooq’s family in Karachi made urgent arrangements for a family member to look after the orphaned sons of Dr Imran Farooq, after it was revealed exclusively on Shahzeb Khanzada Show on Geo News that Shumaila’s sons have been sent into foster care by the local council social workers after no one from the MQM-London came forward to take responsibility of the children.  

The MQM-London tried to downplay the serious concerns surrounding Shumaila Imran Farooq’s mental and physical health after the news was aired. The MQM-London issued a press release and stressed it was aware that Shumaila will be admitted in the hospital for a “minor surgery on the advice of specialist”. But ten days on after being taken in for treatment, Shumaila remains in the ICU and doctors have not allowed anyone to visit her till today. 

The hospital source said that Shumaila’s sister reached London on Monday and went to the foster care centre where she assured the social workers that she will be taking care of Wejdaan and Alishan for as long as Shumaila is in hospital. 

Sources told that Shumaila’s family members arranged the meeting through a London lawyer who provided assurance to the local council social workers as the safety of minors is of prime concern to the authorities. 

The source said that not only Shumaila, but her two sons suffer from trauma and their therapy continues with psychiatrists. Dr Imran Farooq was killed on September 16, 2010, outside his Edgware home.  

The source added: “Surgery operation on Shumaila’s broken jaw went fine but she has suffered injuries on brain after falling on the pavement. Her heart beat continues to stop and doctors are trying to determine the cause. There were injuries to her ribs and shoulder which have been treated. She remains distressed and getting round the clock attention.” 

The sources said that serious concerns have arisen regarding Shumaila’s mental health linked with the murder of her husband who was amongst the founding members of the MQM that until recently ruled Karachi with an iron grip.   

Shumaila was admitted in the hospital after falling unconscious outside the school where her two sons study and broke her jaw, ribs and knees. She was at the school to pick up her sons. 

Local authority and hospital sources have confirmed to this correspondent that Shumaila was asked by the hospital to arrange for her sons to be looked after three weeks – for the period during which she will remain admitted in the hospital. A hospital source told that her breathing stopped twice over the weekend during the operation but she is in a stable condition now.  

The MQM-London has said that Shumaila’s sons were taken into foster care by the social workers because such decisions are made by the social workers in such situation and that the MQM offered help to accommodate the sons.