Senior MQM-P leader and federal health minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has accused MQM founder Altaf Hussain of orchestrating the murder of Dr Imran Farooq, a founding member of the party, while under the influence of alcohol. Kamal made the allegations during a media briefing in Karachi on Saturday, revealing shocking details about the 2010 killing that has haunted Pakistan’s political landscape for over a decade.
Murder Allegedly Ordered as Birthday “Gift”
Kamal, who was once a close aide of Altaf Hussain, claimed that Dr Imran Farooq was killed as a “gift” on Hussain’s birthday. According to Kamal, Hussain told his workers in Pakistan that Dr Farooq was causing trouble, prompting them to travel to London and carry out the murder. Dr Farooq, who served as the first secretary-general of the Mohajir Quami Movement (later renamed Muttahida Quami Movement), was found murdered near the party’s London office on September 16, 2010.
“The workers carried out the killing after receiving instructions from Altaf Hussain, who was intoxicated at the time,” Kamal said. He added that he had remained silent on the matter for the past two years but decided to speak out after Hussain alleged that Dr Farooq’s killers belonged to MQM-P or the Pak-Sarzameen Party (PSP), a party Kamal had founded and later merged back with MQM-P.
Allegations of Mismanagement Following Widow’s Death
Kamal also criticised Altaf Hussain for creating “unnecessary controversy” following the recent death of Shumaila Imran Farooq, Dr Farooq’s widow, in London. She had battled cancer and multiple health complications and reportedly sought justice for her husband’s murder until her passing. Kamal alleged that donations were collected worldwide under the pretext of repatriating her body to Pakistan but accused Hussain of misusing the process.
“Shumaila was abandoned by both MQMs — London and Pakistan — despite her tireless efforts to seek justice,” he said.
Calls for Justice and Cooperation
The federal minister stated that he possesses evidence linking Hussain to Dr Farooq’s murder and expressed his readiness to fully cooperate with authorities to ensure justice is served. He urged Dr Farooq’s grown-up children to take legal action and pursue the case. Kamal also claimed that Scotland Yard is aware of the individuals responsible for the killing and revealed that Dr Farooq’s children had been hidden for 15 days after the murder for security reasons.
Kamal emphasised that Altaf Hussain’s actions had severely damaged the Muhajir community’s reputation and stalled progress in education and civic development. “This man used to orchestrate murders and then publicly mourn the victims,” he said.
Political and Historical Context
Dr Imran Farooq’s murder remains one of the most controversial political killings in Pakistan’s history. Over a decade later, Mustafa Kamal’s allegations have reopened debate over the MQM’s internal politics and Hussain’s role in violent activities. The revelation is likely to trigger renewed calls for accountability and may have significant implications for the Muhajir political landscape.
