The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government has raised controversy by ordering government officials to “just keep quiet” on the matter of the murder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) central leader Dr Imran Farooq, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Whereas accused in the Imran Farooq murder case were arrested in August 2011, the government, Interior and Home Ministers have maintained their silence on the matter.
On August 27, Pakistan Today revealed two ex-students of Karachi University, linked with a student organization, had been arrested for the murder of Dr Imran Farooq.
However, Interior Minister Rehman Malik denied any arrest from Karachi Airport in connection with the Imran Farooq murder case. Subsequently, all government personnel denied the arrest.
However, on Monday, London Commissioner Bernard Howe Hougan said two suspects had been arrested in Pakistan by Pakistani intelligence agencies for involvement in the murder of Dr Imran Farooq.
After the London commissioner’s statement, while the main allies of the PPP government come up with a strategy to control the damage, the PPP leadership has decided to enforce silence on the subject.
Talking to media on Saturday, Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan said the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was investigating the murder of Imran Farooq and he could not comment on the matter.
However, internal sources claimed the PPP leadership had met and decided to follow a policy of “wait and see.”
There are issues outstanding amongst the PPP and MQM leaderships on the Local Government’s system and the PPP is trying to take advantage from the pressure on the MQM after the London commissioners’ statement.
On the other side, intelligence agencies are yet to have shown the arrest of the suspects which asks the question: under what law have they not revealed the arrests of persons after 24 hours of their arrest. Sources said it is possible intelligence agencies had not produced the suspects as a favour to the governing alliance.
Sources said it appears that the Imran Farooq murder case has been solved and the PPP government is now using it as a pressure tactic.
Sources said the only hope to know who was involved in Imran Farooq’s murder lies in London since the PPP is using the matter to save their government.
Sources said the PPP’s silence also raising questions about the interior and home ministries since both ministers were confusing the people of Pakistan. Interior Minister Rehman Malik has yet to have commented on the matter after the statement issued from London.
PPP govt using Imran Farooq murder case as ‘pressure tactic’
