The Pakistani government has not yet made any decision regarding handing over three suspects in its custody to the United Kingdom in connection with the murder case of MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq.
A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday that the ministry would work in accordance with the law. He also ruled out handing over the prime suspects, Mohsin Ali Syed, Moazzam Ali and Khalid Shamim, to the UK under any administrative or executive order of the government.
Physical remand of the three suspects, which is due to expire on Thursday (today), is likely to be extended by 90 days, sources.
Mohsin Ali Syed had reportedly admitted killing the MQM leader in London during separate interrogations conducted by a Pakistani JIT and a visiting Scotland Yard team earlier this year.
Moazzam Ali, according to sources, had also named five leaders of MQM for their alleged involvement in the murder case. One of the names was that of MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
Moazzam also admitted arranging Mohsin and Kashif Khan Kamran’s travel to UK for getting the job done.
Khalid Shamim, another accused in the murder case, revealed that it was his responsibility to pick Kashif and Mohsin from the airport and shift them to a secure
Meanwhile, a 12-year-old boy, who claimed to have identified prime suspect Mohsin Ali Syed, will be provided extra security by the British law enforcers to ensure his safety.
According to our correspondent, the boy’s appearance before the jury is vital for the case proceedings as the British law compels all witnesses to do the same.
In case of a likely trial, a protective screen would be set up to conceal his identity, British prosecutors assured the parents of the boy. They also assured them of his complete protection by law enforcers.
Witnesses have guaranteed their full cooperation to the London Metropolitan Police in this regard.
Last night, the British investigators said that they were likely to make “significant arrests” within a couple of weeks, in the light of the information divulged by Mohsin Ali Syed, one of the prime suspects in the murder case.
The investigators had met with five witnesses among them a 12-year-old boy, who said he was an eyewitness of the murder and has identified Mohsin Ali Syed as one of the attackers from his photos.
The boy, who was seven year old at the time of Imran Farooq’s murder, told investigators that the attackers had made other children, playing near the crime scene, flee before committing the crime.
The boy further said he fled from the scene when the murderers attacked Imran Farooq with knives and bricks. The Scotland Yard is also likely to meet Shumaila Farooq, widower of Imran Farooq, next week.
Meanwhile, sources have said the Scotland Yard will soon present a file about interrogation findings on Mohsin Ali Syed and Kashif Khan Kamran to the Crown Prosecution Service.
The CPS will look at the evidence gathered so far and decide whether there was sufficient evidence to make a charge. The Met Police believes there is enough evidence to press charges on Mohsin Ali Syed at this stage.
The file contains latest audio and video statements made by Mohsin during recent interviews with Scotland Yard officials in Pakistan. It also carries the evidence gathered by the police within the UK while the two suspects were here prior to September 16, 2010 when the murder took place.
The CPS lawyers will look at the file and will allow the police to press charges if the prosecutors believe there was enough evidence present to secure punishments.
According to reliable sources, the Scotland Yard is of the view that they have enough evidence now and the CPS should allow for the charges.
The British law enforcers can get the two accused declared as charged, as they currently are in the custody of Pakistani authorities.
They already have been declared as ‘wanted’ by the British police.
