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LONDON: The Metropolitan Police detectives investigating the killing of Dr Imran Farooq are also looking into the assassination of Haji Jalal and Liaquat Qureshi - veteran leaders of the Muttahidda Qaumi Movement who had made London their base but were killed during private visits to Karachi, their place of birth.
The Counter Terrorism Command Unit (SO15) have asked several people about the life and activities of Jalal and Qureshi and the extent of their contact with Dr Imran Farooq, who was savagely killed on 16 September 2010 outside his home in Edgware.
The News has learnt that Haji Jalal was quite close to Dr Imran Farooq and both spent time together in London. The two were seen in London together on many occasions and it is believed that both were upset over their suspension from the party over disciplinary issues.
Haji Jalal, 60, and his sons Usman Jalal and Abdullah Jalal were killed on July 09, 2009 within the Landhi Police Station area by four armed men riding two motorbikes. Prior to his murder, Haji Jalal served as a councilor and was detained in the Central Jail Karachi for several years in connection with Major Kaleems case. No one has been arrested or charged to this day in connection with these murders.
A former member of the Sindh Assembly, Liaquat Qureshi was gunned down on April 29, 2011 in Karachis Gulshan locality by unidentified gunmen. Altaf Hussain, the MQMs leader, had said that Qureshis killing was a tragedy and a massive loss for the party. He was ambushed by armed assailants who opened fire while he was driving his car. His killers remain at large.
The three former MQM leaders had one thing in common: all of them were suspended from the MQM at the time of their well-planned assassinations.
Dr Imran Farooq had been sidelined in early 2008 from the party, for nearly three years at the time of his assassination. According to the police sources, he had developed differences with the MQM leadership and was in advance talks with his friends to set up his own party.
Liaquat Qureshi became a frequent visitor to London from 2002 onwards and worked from the MQMs International Secretariat. It was during his frequent court visits in Karachi and the legal work that he fell in love with Shaila Bano - who worked as secretary to Judge Ahmed Brohi. They kept their relationship a secret and in 2006 Qureshi helped Shaila to secure a work permit, which enabled her to live and work in London.
Qureshi started living in London as a dependent on Banos visa and the couple married in London in 2008. Sources say that Qureshis marriage did not have approval of his political party and soon after his marriage he was suspended from the party and a ban imposed on any kind of communication with him.
Following his suspension, Qureshi worked as a builder on construction sites in London to support his family. Shaila Bano, now a British national, lives in London permanently, but her whereabouts are not known.
Haji Jalal, former District East Karachi in charge of the MQM, claimed political asylum in Britain in or around 1998. One of the accused in the famous Major Kaleem kidnapping case, Jalal had told the Home Office that he will be assassinated if he was returned to Pakistan. He lived in Edgware with his wife and children. He had been suspended over disciplinary issues from the MQM for nearly five years at the time of his killing.
After Dr Imran Farooq was sidelined from the party, the two struck close friendship and held meetings regularly, inviting their mutual friends.
Both Haji Jalal and Liaquat Qureshi were killed in Pakistani jurisdiction, therefore were outside of the reach of the Metropolitan Police. The police from London can formally investigate if requested by the Pakistani government but no such request has even come forth and it is highly unlikely any request will be forthcoming either.
But Counter Terrorism Command Unit officers have found evidence that Dr Farooq and Haji Jalal held brainstorming sessions about their future political ambitions.
Sources say that the police is now looking into these murders only to help understand further - and resolve - the killing of Dr Imran Farooq, whose murder investigations has become one of the biggest challenges - and a test case - for the reputation of the 184 years old police service.
To date, the Police have not charged anyone with the murder of Dr Imran Farooq but have interviewed at least nine people under caution but the fact that they are looking into what could be connected murders, indicates that the Met Police, is widening its investigation and is prepared to look at the international elements.
What seems obvious is that there needs to be a level of international co-operation, with the Pakistan authorities sharing information with the Met Police to establish if there is any link between these murders.
Unfortunately Pakistan is not listed as a country, which is a signatory to the Requests for Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters under the 2012 Guidelines. Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) is the formal way in which countries request and provide assistance in obtaining evidence located in one country to assist in criminal investigations or proceedings in another country. This procedure is for evidence and not to be confused for intelligence request, which is often termed Police to Police co-operation or Mutual Assistance. Just because Pakistan is not on the list, does not prevent the police from requesting for this information.
It may be that if more information was available in respect of Jalal or Qureshis murders, then this could provide important clues into the UK investigation. There is no legal time frame before the Police to bring formal charges and what will be important is that they have collected all the evidence and it is of a sufficiently high standard before bringing charges and any subsequent prosecutions in any UK court.
London police looking for links between three murders - thenews.com.pk
The Counter Terrorism Command Unit (SO15) have asked several people about the life and activities of Jalal and Qureshi and the extent of their contact with Dr Imran Farooq, who was savagely killed on 16 September 2010 outside his home in Edgware.
The News has learnt that Haji Jalal was quite close to Dr Imran Farooq and both spent time together in London. The two were seen in London together on many occasions and it is believed that both were upset over their suspension from the party over disciplinary issues.
Haji Jalal, 60, and his sons Usman Jalal and Abdullah Jalal were killed on July 09, 2009 within the Landhi Police Station area by four armed men riding two motorbikes. Prior to his murder, Haji Jalal served as a councilor and was detained in the Central Jail Karachi for several years in connection with Major Kaleems case. No one has been arrested or charged to this day in connection with these murders.
A former member of the Sindh Assembly, Liaquat Qureshi was gunned down on April 29, 2011 in Karachis Gulshan locality by unidentified gunmen. Altaf Hussain, the MQMs leader, had said that Qureshis killing was a tragedy and a massive loss for the party. He was ambushed by armed assailants who opened fire while he was driving his car. His killers remain at large.
The three former MQM leaders had one thing in common: all of them were suspended from the MQM at the time of their well-planned assassinations.
Dr Imran Farooq had been sidelined in early 2008 from the party, for nearly three years at the time of his assassination. According to the police sources, he had developed differences with the MQM leadership and was in advance talks with his friends to set up his own party.
Liaquat Qureshi became a frequent visitor to London from 2002 onwards and worked from the MQMs International Secretariat. It was during his frequent court visits in Karachi and the legal work that he fell in love with Shaila Bano - who worked as secretary to Judge Ahmed Brohi. They kept their relationship a secret and in 2006 Qureshi helped Shaila to secure a work permit, which enabled her to live and work in London.
Qureshi started living in London as a dependent on Banos visa and the couple married in London in 2008. Sources say that Qureshis marriage did not have approval of his political party and soon after his marriage he was suspended from the party and a ban imposed on any kind of communication with him.
Following his suspension, Qureshi worked as a builder on construction sites in London to support his family. Shaila Bano, now a British national, lives in London permanently, but her whereabouts are not known.
Haji Jalal, former District East Karachi in charge of the MQM, claimed political asylum in Britain in or around 1998. One of the accused in the famous Major Kaleem kidnapping case, Jalal had told the Home Office that he will be assassinated if he was returned to Pakistan. He lived in Edgware with his wife and children. He had been suspended over disciplinary issues from the MQM for nearly five years at the time of his killing.
After Dr Imran Farooq was sidelined from the party, the two struck close friendship and held meetings regularly, inviting their mutual friends.
Both Haji Jalal and Liaquat Qureshi were killed in Pakistani jurisdiction, therefore were outside of the reach of the Metropolitan Police. The police from London can formally investigate if requested by the Pakistani government but no such request has even come forth and it is highly unlikely any request will be forthcoming either.
But Counter Terrorism Command Unit officers have found evidence that Dr Farooq and Haji Jalal held brainstorming sessions about their future political ambitions.
Sources say that the police is now looking into these murders only to help understand further - and resolve - the killing of Dr Imran Farooq, whose murder investigations has become one of the biggest challenges - and a test case - for the reputation of the 184 years old police service.
To date, the Police have not charged anyone with the murder of Dr Imran Farooq but have interviewed at least nine people under caution but the fact that they are looking into what could be connected murders, indicates that the Met Police, is widening its investigation and is prepared to look at the international elements.
What seems obvious is that there needs to be a level of international co-operation, with the Pakistan authorities sharing information with the Met Police to establish if there is any link between these murders.
Unfortunately Pakistan is not listed as a country, which is a signatory to the Requests for Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters under the 2012 Guidelines. Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) is the formal way in which countries request and provide assistance in obtaining evidence located in one country to assist in criminal investigations or proceedings in another country. This procedure is for evidence and not to be confused for intelligence request, which is often termed Police to Police co-operation or Mutual Assistance. Just because Pakistan is not on the list, does not prevent the police from requesting for this information.
It may be that if more information was available in respect of Jalal or Qureshis murders, then this could provide important clues into the UK investigation. There is no legal time frame before the Police to bring formal charges and what will be important is that they have collected all the evidence and it is of a sufficiently high standard before bringing charges and any subsequent prosecutions in any UK court.
London police looking for links between three murders - thenews.com.pk
