Dr. Imran Farooq’s body shifted to Jinnah Ground & funeral on held

KARACHI: The dead body of Dr. Imran Farooq has been shifted to Jinnah Ground where his funeral prayers are scheduled to take place at 1:30pm.

Dr. Imran Farooq's body was escorted to his residence in Sharifabad from Karachi airport amid a security convoy comprising of dozens of police and rangers mobiles.

The convoy was led by former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal.

Senior MQM leadership and Interior Minister Rehman Malik received the body at the airport.

Stringent security measures have been taken in the metropolis on this occasion.

Police officials say that more than 5, 000 security personnel and specialist shooters have been stationed across the city.

The city is wearing a deserted look as both public and private vehicles remain off the roads.

A large number of MQM leaders, activists and supporters are present at the Jinnah Ground to attend Dr. Imran’s funeral.

He will be laid to rest at the Martrys’ Graveyard in Yasinabad.

It may be mentioned here that Dr. Imran Farooq was stabbed to death outside his house in London last month.

(source:samaa.tv)

Minimising security risk: MQM activists, supporters to skip airport, assemble at Jinnah Ground

KARACHI: Authorities have refused to provide security to the crowd expected to turn up at the Karachi airport to receive Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Imran Farooq’s body scheduled to arrive on Saturday morning from London, sources said on Thursday. Considering intelligence agencies’ reports, security officials had suggested the MQM leadership to ask party activists and supporters to refrain from gathering at the airport for minimising risk. Following that, the MQM leadership has directed party activists and supporters to assemble at the Jinnah Ground in Azizabad where Dr Farooq’s funeral will be held. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik will reach Karachi on Friday (today) and most probably attend Dr Farooq’s funeral the next day. Authorities have yet to finalise security arrangements for the funeral, and they are considering transporting Dr Farooq’s body from the airport to the Jinnah Ground by helicopter. The Sindh Home Department has directed security officials to increase the strength of security personnel on the occasion. Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza has urged the law enforcement agencies to take every possible step to avert any untoward incident. He also directed to deploy extra police contingents with plainclothes personnel from the airport to the graveyard, besides beefing up police picketing and increasing random snap checking. Capital City Police Officer Fayyaz Laghari said 3,000 policemen would be deployed for security during Dr Farooq’s funeral. He also said special monitoring cells have been set up in the offices of East and West deputy inspector generals. The bomb disposal squad will examine the whole route before the funeral procession moves forward. MQM leaders and Malik will receive Dr Farooq’s body on Saturday, and his funeral prayer will be offered the same day, while his body will be laid to rest at Shuhada Qabristan, Yasinabad. atif raza

(source:dailytimes.com.pk)

Hundreds of mourners gather to pay their respects to Dr Imran Farooq, who was murdered in Edgware, at Hendon Mosque

FUNERAL prayers were said for a murdered Pakistani politician at Hendon Mosque yesterday afternoon.

Hundreds of mourners crowded in to see the coffin of Dr Imran Farooq, who was killed by two “assassins” outside his home in Green Lane, Edgware.

The leader of the MQM party, Altaf Hussain, broke down in tears as prayers were offered up to one of the founding members of the party.

His father Farooq Ahmed, and the Pakistani High Commissioner in London, Wajid Shamsul Hassan, joined dozens of party activists at the service.

Tonight the father-of-two's body is to be flown back to Pakistan for formal burial with his family tomorrow in his home town of Karachi.

The Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory against British tourists travelling to the area because of fears the funeral could erupt into violence and are advised to “avoid large gatherings”.

After the murder on September 16 there were riots on the streets of the city, which is an MQM stronghold.

Today police also released an E-fit image of one of the two men seen attacking Dr Farooq with a knife and brick.

(source:dailymailnews.com)

Suspect e-fit released after Imran Farooq murdered

Scotland Yard releases sketch of Imran Farooqs killer,

Police investigating the murder of a Pakistani politician in north London released an e-fit of one of his suspected attackers.

Imran Farooq, 50, died from stab wounds and head injuries in an ambush outside his home in Edgware.

Investigators recovered a kitchen knife and a brick used in the attack, but do not know if it was politically motivated.

They released an e-fit image showing an Asian man described as having "piercing eyes", a pointed face and a distinctive goatee beard.

Police also want to trace a second Asian man who eyewitnesses said was in the area at the time of the attack.

Up to 3,000 police have been drafted in ahead of Dr Farooq's burial in Pakistan on Saturday.

His body was due to be flown into Karachi amid secrecy over how his body will be transported to a burial site.

Some businesses will close due to fears of a repeat of the unrest that followed his murder and people have been banned from carrying weapons.

Dr Farooq, a prominent member of the MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement) party, was living in exile after fleeing his homeland 11 years ago following death threats.

His widow Shumaila Imran, 42, said the death of the "dedicated family man" left her and others in "shock and disbelief".

(source:afp)

Dr. Imran Farooq's corpse to be buried in Karachi after arrival on Saturday

LONDON: The corpse of Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) slain leader, Dr. Imran Farooq, will be burried in Karachi and it is likely that his dead body will reach to Karachi on Saturday.

Sources told that the police handed over, on Monday, the remains of Dr. Imran Farooq to his parents in London.

The sources added that the corpse of Dr. Imran Farooq would be buried in Yasinabad' Shohda Graveyard. His funeral prayer would be performed in London on Thursday.

The parents of Dr. Imran Farooq reached in London with a Raza Haroon last week while the wife and a brother of the slain MQM leader were already present in London.

Dr. Imran Farooq was a very prominent leader of MQM. He was murdered on September 16 by some unknown attackers in London

(source:samaa.tv)

Imran Farooq’s funeral prayer to be held in London today

LONDON (updated on: 2010-11-04 11:55:50 PST):

The namaz-e janaza of late leader of MQM Dr. imran Farooq would be offered on Thursday after the Zuhr prayers in London. The dead body of Dr Farooq would reach Karachi on Saturday, Aaj News reported.

The funeral ceremony of Dr. Imran farooq would be offered at the Handan Central Mosque, London in between 6.30 and 7 according to Pakistan’s local time. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik would reach Islamabad today and chair a high level meeting to finalize the security arrangements for Dr. Imran Farooq’s funeral. On the other hand the dead body of Dr. Imran Farooq would reach Karachi on Saturday which would be received by MQM leaders and Rehman Malik. His namaz-e janaza would be offered on the same day while his body would be laid to rest in the Yasinabad graveyard in Karachi.

MQM has suspended all its political activities from 4th November till 7th November due to the funeral and other after-death prayer services for Dr. Imran Farooq.

(source:brecorder.com)