News Analysis |
A major development in Imran Farooq’s murder case took place on Wednesday when the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) allowed the publication of Altaf Hussain’s summons to the court. Mutahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain is one of the suspects in Imran Farooq’s murder case. The ATC had earlier issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Altaf Hussain on 6th December 2017.
Imran Farooq, a senior member of MQM, was attacked and murdered on his way home from work on 6th September 2010. He was attacked by a kitchen knife and a brick, receiving multiple stab wounds and blunt trauma to head. Three suspects of the murder Syed Mohsin Ali, Moazzam Ali and Khalid Shamim are currently being held in Adiala Jail.
Altaf can also claim political refuge and if Scotland Yard failed to find enough evidence to indict him, his claim might have some weight to it.
Shamim and Mohsin have already recorded their statements; Shamim has confessed that Farooq was a threat to the MQM leadership and his murder was a birthday gift to Altaf Hussain. Mohsin recorded that he conspired to the murder to earn a senior position in MQM leadership. The third suspect is yet to record his statement.
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The FIA will contact Interpol for assistance regarding Altaf Hussain’s arrest. Red warrants were also issued for the arrest of three other key suspects Anwar Hussain, Iftikhar Hussain and Kashif Khan Kamran earlier in December. The summons will be published in ‘The New York Times’ and ‘The Guardian’.
The ATC also ordered the inclusion of Altaf’s London address in the summons; it previously only included his Pakistani address. The petition to remove the anti-terrorist clauses from the case was earlier rejected by the ATC. FIA registered a case against Altaf Hussain and other members of MQM in the Altaf Hussain murder case in 2015. Three suspects in the case were arrested the same year.
This is called the clause of double criminality, it is satisfied in the case of Altaf Hussain so there should be no reason why UK won’t hand over Altaf to Pakistan but Altaf Hussain is also a citizen of Britain.
The case was initially registered in the London Metropolitan Police, headquarters at Scotland Yard. The suspects were thoroughly interviewed by Scotland Yard but the UK did not demand an extradition of the culprits. The case is now being run in Pakistan even though the crime took place in London which is not under Pakistan’s jurisdiction. The London police appear to take very little interest in the case even though the murder was committed under its jurisdiction.
Read more: Altaf Hussain meets US Congressman in London: Is it Agartala 2.0?
The question at hand is that, would Britian extradite Altaf Hussain to Pakistan? There is an extradition treaty between UK and Pakistan but the crime of the suspect should be punishable in both countries. This is called the clause of double criminality, it is satisfied in the case of Altaf Hussain so there should be no reason why UK won’t hand over Altaf to Pakistan but Altaf Hussain is also a citizen of Britain.
Previously a BBC writer Owen Bennett-Jones was fired from his job for highlighting Altaf Hussain’s crimes and that India was funding him. The British government will be reluctant to hand over their own citizen to a foreign power for prosecution. Altaf can also claim political refuge and if Scotland Yard failed to find enough evidence to indict him, his claim might have some weight to it.