ISLAMABAD: Two suspects facing trial in the murder of MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq on Thursday backtracked from their confessions recorded in the case.

In 2016, Khalid Shamim and Mohsin Ali Syed confessed before the magistrate about their role in Dr Farooq’s murder.

Before the ATC, both suspects claimed that they were forced to confess and were subjected to torture before recording their confessional statements.

A suspect alleged that he was asked to sign a ‘ready-made’ confessional statement.

In the alleged forced confessional statements recorded under section 164 of the criminal procedure code, Mohsin said another suspect, Moazzam Ali, had handled his travel documents and stay in London.

He had earlier stated that at a university hostel in London he and his accomplice Kashif Khan Kamran, whose whereabouts are not known and may have died, hatched a plot to kill Dr Farooq. He said they monitored the movement of Dr Farooq in London to know about his daily routine.

On the day of the murder, he said, he grabbed Dr Farooq while Kashif stabbed him and then bludgeoned him with a brick to ensure his death.

In his confessional statement, Shamim said he had consented to join the murder plot because he was a diehard MQM activist, sources said.

Shamim claimed that senior MQM leader Mohammad Anwar gave the order to assassinate Dr Farooq.

The JIT constituted to investigate the murder had suggested that MQM chief Altaf Hussain regarded Dr Farooq as a threat and wanted him eliminated. The JIT report also noted that all three suspects were members of the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation, the MQM’s student wing.

The murder took place on Sept 16, 2010 near Dr Farooq’s London home.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...