Karachi: In a dramatic and highly charged press conference, senior leader of MQM Pakistan and Federal Minister Mustafa Kamal made explosive allegations, claiming that Dr Imran Farooq, a founding leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), was murdered on the orders of the party’s founder, Altaf Hussain. Kamal described Altaf Hussain as the “mastermind” behind the killing and accused him of decades-long deception, betrayal, and exploitation of the party and the Mohajir community.
Speaking to the media alongside other MQM Pakistan leaders in Karachi, Mustafa Kamal alleged that Dr Imran Farooq, who had devoted nearly 40 years of his life to the MQM, was killed on his birthday as a “gift” ordered by Altaf Hussain. He claimed the murder was carried out on September 17, calling it a deliberate and calculated act. Kamal accused Altaf Hussain of giving the order for the killing while being under the influence of drugs, using extremely harsh language to describe the former party chief’s character and conduct.
Mustafa Kamal alleged that Altaf Hussain, whom he repeatedly referred to as a “drama artist,” exploited the tragedy for personal and political gain. He claimed that after Dr Imran Farooq’s murder, Altaf Hussain appealed for donations in the name of sending the body back to Pakistan, collecting hundreds of thousands of pounds from supporters around the world. According to Kamal, this behavior exposed what he called Altaf Hussain’s hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy.
The federal minister further claimed that despite collecting large sums of money, Altaf Hussain did not maintain meaningful contact with Dr Imran Farooq’s family after his death. He alleged that even when Dr Imran Farooq’s wife passed away recently, Altaf Hussain again created public drama around her body, despite having access to vast financial resources. Kamal claimed that millions of pounds were found hidden under pillows and in offices, yet Altaf Hussain allegedly failed to provide even a small amount to assist Dr Imran Farooq’s widow.
Mustafa Kamal said he had deliberately stopped speaking about Altaf Hussain for the past two years but felt compelled to break his silence in the interest of truth. He alleged that Altaf Hussain saw himself as a powerful and untouchable figure, claiming that many facts had been deliberately kept hidden for years. Kamal said that when Dr Imran Farooq was murdered, he himself had gone to London on behalf of the party and witnessed events firsthand.
He further alleged that Altaf Hussain was only interested in media coverage during Dr Imran Farooq’s funeral. According to Kamal, Altaf Hussain insisted on having his photograph taken during the funeral prayers, even though cameras were not allowed inside the mosque. He claimed that Altaf Hussain violated mosque rules simply to stage a photo opportunity.
Using exceptionally strong language, Mustafa Kamal described Altaf Hussain as the “biggest traitor of the Mohajir nation,” saying the community had been extremely unfortunate to have such a criminal leader. He accused Altaf Hussain of “consuming” countless people over the last 40 years and continuing to damage the community even today. Kamal said that MQM once had the strength to mobilize hundreds of thousands of people on a single call, yet Altaf Hussain never used that power to genuinely fight for constitutional rights.
He argued that constitutional amendments could have been achieved within minutes two decades ago if Altaf Hussain had truly wanted them. Instead, Kamal claimed, Altaf Hussain chose to protect his own interests rather than securing long-term political and legal rights for the Mohajir community. Kamal alleged that Altaf Hussain was deeply involved in secret meetings with political figures of the past but failed to deliver meaningful results for his supporters.
Mustafa Kamal also claimed that Scotland Yard was aware of who was responsible for Dr Imran Farooq’s murder, alleging that the police had kept the victim’s children hidden for 15 days after the killing for security reasons. He said that Dr Imran Farooq’s children are now grown up and urged them to take legal action in British courts to seek justice for their father.
Addressing Dr Imran Farooq’s children directly, Kamal warned them to remain cautious in London and encouraged them to pursue a formal investigation into their father’s murder. He said he was ready to provide full cooperation, including financial support, to ensure that the real perpetrators were exposed and punished.
In a highly emotional statement, Kamal said that if holding public office meant remaining silent in the face of injustice, he rejected such a position. “I curse such a ministry if I cannot raise my voice for the people,” he said, adding that his statements were driven by conscience rather than political gain.
He concluded by accusing Altaf Hussain of destroying Karachi and pushing the city and its people back by decades in terms of education, training, and social development. Kamal vowed that MQM Pakistan would rebuild Karachi and restore it to its rightful place.
In response to a question, Mustafa Kamal said that a killer could never truthfully explain who committed the murder, directly accusing Altaf Hussain of being responsible. He challenged Altaf Hussain to come forward and face him publicly, warning that what had been revealed so far was “only the trailer.”
The allegations have sent shockwaves through Pakistan’s political landscape, reviving painful memories of MQM’s violent past and reopening debate over accountability, justice, and leadership. While the claims are yet to be tested in a court of law, they have once again placed the unresolved murder of Dr Imran Farooq at the center of national and international attention.
