MQM factions trade barbs over Dr Imran Farooq murder

WEB DESK: Sharp exchanges erupted between rival factions of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Sunday after Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal again accused party founder Altaf Hussain of involvement in the 2010 killing of senior leader Dr Imran Farooq in London.

Addressing a press conference near the party’s Bahadurabad headquarters, Kamal said that if Hussain believed himself to be innocent, he should seek legal recourse in the United Kingdom and request an open investigation into Dr Farooq’s murder. He referred to the verdict of an Islamabad anti-terrorism court, which in 2020 sentenced three men, Syed Mohsin Ali, Moazzam Ali and Khalid Shamim, to life imprisonment in the case and declared Hussain a proclaimed absconder.

Kamal’s remarks came a day after the burial of Dr Farooq’s widow, Shumaila, in London. Leaders from various MQM factions, including Kamal, attended the funeral and offered condolences to her two sons and other family members.

During the press conference, Kamal grew visibly agitated and used harsh language while criticising Hussain. He also alleged that funds had been collected from different parts of the world in the name of repatriating Shumaila’s body to Pakistan, an allegation he did not substantiate.

Expressing concern over what he described as the politicisation of a bereaved family, Kamal said Dr Farooq’s children were being drawn into political disputes through social media and urged them to distance themselves from Hussain and his supporters.

MQM-L rejects allegations

The London-based MQM faction swiftly rejected Kamal’s claims, terming his press conference irresponsible and inflammatory. Senior leader Mustafa Azizabadi, speaking during an online briefing, said Kamal’s remarks were an attempt to malign opponents by dragging Dr Farooq’s family into political controversy.

Azizabadi condemned the use of offensive language and challenged Kamal to present evidence to support his accusations. He also shared video clips in which Dr Farooq’s late father is seen alleging that those responsible for his son’s killing were associated with Kamal.

Stressing that his party was not levelling fresh allegations, Azizabadi said the public should draw its own conclusions after reviewing the available material.

The latest exchange reflects enduring divisions within the MQM, more than a decade after the killing of one of its most prominent leaders, an issue that continues to fuel bitter political recriminations.