News Analysis |
Deputy Convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement London’s (MQM-L) Professor Hasan Zafar Arif was found dead in his car in Karachi near Ibrahim Hyderi. The 72-year-old professor went missing on Saturday evening. He was later found dead in his silver Lancer on Sunday morning. The police found his body after receiving information from the local residents. He was identified with the help of his ID card.
The post-mortem of the dead body was conducted but it showed no signs of torture or any wounds, the doctors believe the cause of death to be a heart attack but the family of the deceased and the MQM-L disagree with the reports, stating that the professor was driving the car but his body was found in the back seat rather than on the driving seat. Qamar Arif, the deceased’s brother, said that Ibrahim Hyderi was not on his route, his cell phone was also switched off which makes them suspect that the cause of death was not natural.
The cause of death is still uncertain, with the police and post-mortem reports claiming that it was a natural death, and MQM-L leadership claiming that it was a murder by the security forces.
The professor was last seen in Saddar area, he met MQM-L member Abdul Majeed Karwani on Saturday evening but left early to see off his daughter, who was leaving for London. The MQM-L leadership believes that he was abducted and murdered; MQM-L leader Nadeem Nusrat accused the security forces of abducting him and later killing him. Condolences were offered by PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as well as MQM-P chief Farooq Sattar. Both MQM-L and MQM-P leadership have demanded proper investigation of the professor’s death.
I extend my heartfelt condolence on the sad demise of Professor Hassan Zafar Arif.
He was a learned son of Karachi.
Learning & Teaching was his life.
May his soul rest in peace.— Dr Farooq Sattar (@DFSMQM) January 14, 2018
Shocked and deeply disturbed by the murder of #ProfessorHassanZafarArif there needs to be a complete investigation. https://t.co/HBujhWOW50
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) January 14, 2018
Sorry but these images were necessary to share.
Security forces are claiming Dr Arif’s body bore no torture signs. Look at these pictures. There is no doubt now he’s been killed by security forces. This is part of #Mohajir genocide in #Pakistan#Justice4DrArif pic.twitter.com/8PPwvghzGd— Nadeem Nusrat (@nadeem_nusrat) January 14, 2018
Professor Hasan Zafar Arif was a former philosophy professor at the University of Karachi, he was also a former Harvard fellow. He was a leftist, human rights activist and a philosopher. He joined MQM very late in his life, following Altaf Hussain’s subversive speech in August 2016. The professor was earlier arrested by the Pakistan Sindh Rangers on 22nd October 2016 for listening to and facilitating Altaf Hussain’s speech but was later released on bail. He was handling MQM-L’s affairs and leading the party in Pakistan.
The 72-year-old professor went missing on Saturday evening. He was later found dead in his silver Lancer on Sunday morning.
The cause of death is still uncertain, with the police and post-mortem reports claiming that it was a natural death, and MQM-L leadership claiming that it was a murder by the security forces. His death can also be compared with that of MQM-L leader Dr. Imran Farooq, he was assaulted and killed by a man outside his London residence in 2010. Altaf Hussain is one of the accused in the case. The claim of the MQM-L that he was killed by the security forces is objectionable since they have not been involved in any extra-judicial killings of MQM leaders in the past, and this is the first case to arrive in recent years.