Recent developments in the ongoing investigations into former MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq’s murder appear to have attained the same degree of complexity as the circumstances which led to his death, as on Thursday British Home Secretary Theresa May discarded a confirmation by London Police Commissioner Bernard Morgan that the alleged killers had been arrested in Karachi.
While holding a joint press conference with Interior Minister Rehman Malik, the British home secretary took a pause to hear the feed from her assistant standing beside her, looked into his eyes nervously before stating that the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police “is misspoken”.
However, she added that police was investigating the case and findings would be shared after the completion of inquiry. Malik also denied the arrests, saying he would stick to his previous denial.
Two weeks ago, the London police chief had confirmed the arrest of two people in Pakistan. Dr Farooq was murdered on September 16 last year outside his London residence. Two suspects allegedly involved in the murder were arrested at Karachi airport on August 22 and three others were arrested in London in what was termed as a quantum leap in investigations. Interior Minister Rehman Malik had at that time denied the reports of arrests.
On a question on the arrest warrants for former president Pervez Musharraf, Malik said the government was following a formal procedure and that the authorities were in touch with Interpol on the subject. About the improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the British home secretary said the United Kingdom was providing support and technical assistance to the Pakistani personnel in countering the threat of IEDs.
Before the press conference, Malik and May held a meeting and discussed several issues such as the developments into Farooq’s murder case, the allegations of Dr Zulfiqar Mirza against MQM chief Altaf Hussain, the issue of illegal immigrants and mutual cooperation in countering terrorism.
No arrests made in Farooq’s murder case: UK home secy
