KARACHI, Sept 16: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) observed on Monday the third death anniversary of its senior leader Dr Imran Farooq who was assassinated in London in 2010. MQM leaders, office-bearers, workers and parents and sisters of Dr Farooq attended the main event held at the Lal Qila ground near the MQM’s headquarters to observe the death anniversary.

Similar gatherings were also held in other cities and towns, and Dr Farooq’s widow Shumaila Imran and her two sons attended one in London.

Speaking to the media, Farooq Ahmed, the father of the slain leader, said that when he went to London in 2010 the Scotland Yard had asked him whether he suspected involvement of anyone, including MQM chief Altaf Hussain, in the murder. Mr Ahmed said he told British investigators that he had no suspicion on anyone.

MQM leader Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui told journalists it could not even be imagined that Dr Farooq was going to form a new political party. “We do not want to create any hurdle in the way of any investigating agency…he was a loyal worker of MQM.”

Meanwhile, the MQM chief in a statement paid homage to Dr Farooq and said that sacrifices of all those killed while struggling for the movement would bring about change.

“In the crusade against injustices thousands of workers have laid down their lives and refused to submit to the forces of evil. In our struggle against the injustices we lost senior activist Dr Imran Farooq. His martyrdom is a great bereavement. The strong sense of this bereavement will always be in our hearts. His sacrifices will always be remembered,” said the statement.

“Tyranny and oppression has not shaken our resolve. We will not hesitate to lay down our lives for the noble mission and objectives for which our martyrs have rendered great sacrifices,” it added.