BRIEF PROFILE OF
DR. IMRAN FAROOQ (1960-2010)
Imran Farooq, Convener of the MQM was born in Karachi in 1960. He belonged to a
respectable family. He was a student of Sindh Medical College and began his
political career with the All Pakistan Mohajir Students' Organization (APMSO),
and appointed as its first Secretary General in 1978.
After the
formation of Mohajir Quami Movement (MQM) on 18 March 1984, Dr. Imran Farooq
became the Secretary General of the party and used his abilities for spreading
the philosophy of MQM Founder and Leader Mr. Altaf Hussain.
In 1988 and 1990
Dr. Imran Farooq took part in the General Elections and on both occasions he was
successfully elected with overwhelming majority as the Member of the Pakistan
National Assembly and became Parliamentary Leader of the MQM.
As Mr. Altaf
Hussain’s life was constantly under threat in Pakistan; Dr. Imran Farooq was
amongst those who advised Mr. Hussain for his safety to leave the country and
lead the party from abroad. In January 1992, Mr. Hussain left for Britain and
has lived here in exile since then. Soon after the commencement of the State
Operation against the MQM in June 1992, Dr Imran Farooq was left with no choice
but to go in hiding. He remained “underground” for seven years. As a result of
courageous and bold leadership while remaining in hiding, Mr. Altaf Hussain
declared him as “Hero of the Nation”.
In total
disregard to the legal justice system the Establishment pronounce head money on
the capture “Dead or Alive” of Dr Imran Farooq in 1992 (later on this act of the
Establishment was challenged by the MQM in the courts and was termed as “illegal
and unconstitutional” by the Sindh High Court).
In 1997, in
recognition to the sacrifices and hardships faced by the family of Dr. Imran
Farooq, his father Mohammad Farooq was awarded party ticket and was elected as
the Member of National Assembly of Pakistan.
Dr Imran Farooq
was a very close aide, confidante and a truly committed colleague of Mr. Altaf
Hussain. He remained actively involved with the party from the very beginning as
the Founder Member of the party. He was instrumental in the transformation of
the party from a student organization into the Mohajir Quami Movement (MQM) and
then to Muttahida Quami Movement in 1997.
In 1999, Dr.
Imran Farooq arrived in London and claimed political asylum. Spending seven
years hiding in Pakistan, he was warmly welcomed by Mr. Altaf Hussain and party
workers upon his arrival in London.
In 1999, he was
designated as Convener of the MQM Central Coordination Committee, the main
policy making body of the party, and till his last breath he remained the
Convener of the MQM.
Dr. Imran Farooq got
married in London, on 13th February 2004 with Ms. Shumaila Nazar, the
then MQM’s Member of Provincial Assembly of Sindh.
On 16th September 2010,
Dr. Imran Farooq was brutally killed outside his residence in Edgware, North
London. He was loved and respected by all and known to be a gentleman, soft
spoken and extremely nice human being. Dr Imran Farooq was one of the most
popular and prominent political leader of Pakistan. Dr. Imran was a literary
person, party poet and was the author of several party literature booklets.
Dr. Imran
Farooq has left behind his widow, two sons Alishan, 5 years and Wajdan 3 years
old, his elderly parents, one brother and seven sisters.
