KARACHI: Police have recovered the body of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London leader Professor Dr Hasan Zafar Arif from Karachi’s outlying Ibrahim Hyderi area.
The authorities are yet to ascertain the cause of death.
“The body of Hassan Zafar Arif, son of Maqbool Hassan, 70-72-years-old, was found from car number ANC-016, Lancer silver at Ilyas goth,” station house officer at Ibrahim Hyderi police station confirmed.
“The body was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC),” he added.
The SHO said that the cause of death will be ascertained after a post-mortem examination is conducted. “Further investigations are ongoing,” he said.
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Executive Director Seemi Jamali informed media that the professor’s body was brought to the hospital’s emergency department where doctors have pronounced him dead already.
“Body does not bear any marks of torture or bullet wounds,” added Seemi Jamali.
Senior Superintendent Police Malir Rao Anwar also said that no marks of torture were found on Dr Arif’s body.
Further investigation is going on.
FAROOQ SATTAR EXPRESSES GRIEF:
MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar has expressed grief and concern over the body of Dr Hasan Zafar Arif being found in Karachi.
Speaking to the media in Multan, Farooq Sattar said, “It does not matter if he was from MQM-L or Pakistan, what has happened is a conspiracy to disrupt peace in Karachi.”
Dr Hasan Zafar Arif was the professor of philosophy and has taught in a number of universities in Karachi.
The professor has made significant contributions to progressive writings in Pakistan.
Earlier, Dr Arif was booked for allegedly facilitating and listening to a controversial speech of Altaf Hussain in which he reportedly tried to outrage religious feelings, criticised the military establishment and asked his workers to extort money from the traders.
According to police, he and other MQM leaders had facilitated the anti-state speech of Altaf Hussain that was delivered at the party’s headquarter, Nine-Zero through a telephone call on July 29, 2016.
Dr Arif was taken into custody by Sindh Rangers in October last year from outside the Karachi Press Club, where they were due to address a press conference. However, an anti-terrorism court issued his release order in the case.