Pak, UK to sort out MQM’s case together

• With British seeking access to suspects, breakthrough in MQM’s Dr Imran Farooq murder case expected in 48 hours
• Sources say Pak may seek MQM chief’s extradition in case of Moazzam’s, however both countries need an extradition treaty first

Pakistan and United Kingdom (UK) on Tuesday agreed to expand mutual cooperation for bringing the killers of Muttahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) founding secretary general Dr Imran Farooq to justice. A major breakthrough is likely in the next 48 hours, sources in the Interior Ministry told Pakistan Today.

Sources said that a UK government official held a detailed meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan with a request for access to the three accused arrested by Pakistani authorities in Dr Farooq’s murder case.

“The discussion primarily was about the request by the UK authorities for extradition of Moazzam Ali Khan, the prime suspect in the case,” the source said.

“The British authorities are also interested in having access to two other suspects, Mohsin Ali Syed, 29, and Muhammad Kashif Khan Kamran,34, who they claimed had possibly committed the crime in London,” the source said, adding that Pakistan was reluctant in providing access, claiming that both youngsters were “poor and innocent”.

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on May 27, 2014 had released photos of Kamran and Syed, both men named by British Police in connection with the 2010 killing.

“Our investigation has led to a conclusion that both the youngsters are poor and innocent. Rather, Moazzam Ali Khan is the prime suspect,” the source said, adding that the interior minister has directed the authorities concerned to provide Moazzam’s access of British Metropolitan Police.

The source said that Pakistan may seek extradition of MQM chief Altaf Hussain if British authorities requested Moazzam’s extradition.

“However, the major problem is that Pakistan has no extradition treaty with UK government. So both the governments would have to deal with extradition treaty first,” the source said.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had recently told a journalist that Pakistan could review an extradition request by UK if a quid-pro-quo was offered in exchange for the cooperation.

“Next 48 hours are important as the British investigators would complete their interview of Moazzam Ali Khan. If needed, they might be provided access to the other two accused but there must be some quid-pro-quo for this cooperation from the British side,” the source added.

Asked if Pakistan had had a case registered against MQM chief Hussain so that an extradition could be sought, the source said that there were many cases registered against the MQM leader which were not cleared yet.

When contacted, a British High Commission spokeswoman said, “This is a matter for the Metropolitan Police which is operationally independent of the UK government. If you are interested in the case, you may directly contact the Metropolitan Police.”

Asked whether Pakistan and UK government had an extradition treaty, the spokeswoman said there was no extradition treaty between the two.

However, MQM leader Senator Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif laughed off the claim made by the government official, saying that all cases against Hussain had been withdrawn under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

“Yes, we suspect that some quarters are trying to re-activate old cases against Hussain which have already been disposed of under the NRO. Those cases mostly were politically motivated, fabricated and baseless. It would be just a waste of national resources to pursue such cases. Those who are wasting time on these frivolous cases should shift their focus on something important for the future of the country,” said the MQM leader.