FIA approaches ATC for confiscation of MQM founder's property in Imran Farooq case
July 03, 2020
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday filed an application in Anti Terrorism Court (ATC), Islamabad, for confiscation of the property of MQM leader Altaf Hussain and three others who were declared proclaimed offenders by the court in its last verdict regarding Dr Imran Farooq murder case.
The application, naming Altaf Hussain, Iftikhar Hussain, Muhammad Anwar and Kashif Khan stated that since the accused were declared proclaimed offenders by the ATC, their properties must be confiscated.
In response, the court accepted the application but no date for hearing is issued as yet.
Three accused handed life imprisonment
Last month, an ATC in Islamabad had sentenced three accused in the Imran Farooq murder case to life imprisonment.
The judgment was read by ATC Judge Shahrukh Arjumand as the accused appeared before the court through a video link to attend the hearing.
“The prosecution has succeeded in proving the case against all three of you,” remarked the judge during the hearing.
The accused, Khalid Shamim, Mohsin Ali Syed and Moazzam Ali had been in Adiala jail ever since they were arrested. Their sentences will run concurrently and their time already spent in jail will count towards their sentence, according to the detailed verdict issued.
The court had ordered the sentenced individuals to pay Rs1 million each to the heirs of the murdered MQM leader.
'MQM founder gave the orders'
Moreover, the court in its detailed order, had stated that it had been proved that the "MQM founder gave the orders" to murder Farooq.
“Two senior leaders of MQM-London conveyed the orders to Pakistan,“ said the court in its 39-page order. It added that Moazzam Ali selected the boys to carry out the murder from the then MQM headquarter, Nine-Zero.
“Mohsin Ali and Kashif Khan Kamran were selected for murdering Imran Farooq,” said the order, adding that both were taken to London and were provided support to carry out the crime.
Also read: Imran Farooq case: Govt decides to approach UK to repatriate MQM founder, others
According to the judgment, the sole purpose of the murder ordered by the MQM founder was to remove the resistance being faced by him from within the party ranks. It adds that the statement provided by the convicts to the magistrate and the evidence presented had a clear link.
“The aim of the murder was to ensure that no one raises their voice against the party founder,” said the order.
Imran Farooq murder trial
MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq was killed nine years ago in London.
During hearings by the ATC, 29 witnesses recorded their statements.
In February, a team of Scotland Yard officers had arrived in Islamabad for a week to facilitate the trial taking place in both London and Pakistan after the UK and Pakistan decided to cooperate. Subsequently, Britain sent the entire murder case file to Pakistan for the trial.
Last year, Pakistan’s lawyer in the UK for the murder case, Toby Cadman, said Britain handed “compelling evidence” to Islamabad.
The MQM leader’s wife, Shumaila Farooq, was also interviewed from London during the lengthy trial. She read out her statement on what happened on September 16, 2010, when her husband was stabbed to death outside his home in Edgware.
