Imran Farooq

Imran Farooq
Born	June 14, 1960(1960-06-14) Karachi, Pakistan
Died	September 16, 2010(2010-09-16) (aged 50) London, England
Occupation	Physician, Politician
Political party	Muttahida Qaumi Movement
Religion	Islam
Spouse	Shumaila Nazar
Children	2 children[1]
Parents	Mohammad Farooq Ahmed

Imran Farooq (Urdu: عمران فاروق; June 14, 1960 – September 16, 2010)^[2] was a Pakistani 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.^[3] He lived in London in self-imposed exile from 1999 until his death in September 2010.^[3]

Contents 1 Biography 2 MQM 3 Death 3.1 Reactions 4 References 5 External links

Biography

Imran Farooq was born in Karachi, Pakistan. His father, Farooq Ahmed, was born in Delhi, British India before he migrated to Pakistan during the Partition of India in 1947^[4][5] and was elected as a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan.^[6] 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.^[3] In 2004, Farooq married a former member of the Sindh Assembly, Shumaila Nazar.^[3][7] He fathered two children.^[8]

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.^[9]

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.^[10] In 1988 and 1990, he was elected to the Pakistan National Assembly and became the Parliamentary Leader of the MQM.^[11]

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.^[12][13] 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.^[14][15] 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.^[16]

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.^[17][18][19]

Death

Farooq was found murdered near his home in north London on 16 September 2010.^[20][21]

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.^[20]

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.^[22]

Recitations of the Quran and prayers were organised by members of MQM across the world for Farooq.^[23]

A suspect was arrested in December 2010^[24]

Reactions

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his deep sorrow and shock saying that "Imran was a great political leader who rendered his services for his party diligently."^[25] 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.^[26] The Pakistani Senate adjourned a session of parliament and paid tribute to Farooq from across the political spectrum.^[27] 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."^[28]

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.^[29] He also called Farooq a "Shaheed-e-Inqalab" or Martyr of the Revolution.^[30]Majority of peopels believe that he bene killed by Altaf Hussain order cuz he was not in good terms with Altaf from last 5 years and he tried to resign as well from MQM.

References

External links

• Profile of Imran Farooq

Persondata
Name	Farooq, Imran
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	14 June 1960
Place of birth	Karachi, Pakistan
Date of death	16 September 2010
Place of death	London, England